Raising livestock is a way of life for many Texans, but the lack of rain is making things difficult.

“When we unload, we keep the cows from the calves,” Bryan Luensmann said.

Bryan Luensmann is a third generation Texas rancher. He works in the beef industry running the Seguin Cattle Company.

“Second generation running this sell barn,” Luensmann said. “It’s all I know. Livestock is my life.”

Every week he takes cows to be auctioned off. But things have been difficult this summer and has been forced to sell beef cattle sooner.

“Usually our rushes come in the fall,” Luensmann said. “And it started months early because of the dry weather and feed shortages and everything else.”

Luensmann says they are averaging a 1,000 to 1,400 cattle a week in the auction. Which is double what they see in a typical summer.

“Usually you ween a calf weighing at five to 600 pounds,” Luensmann said. “Now we’re pulling them off at 300 just to give the cows some relief.”

Will Soefje has been ranching 30-plus years.

“Drought on top of the high prices everywhere is devastating,” Soefje said.

He says dry grass means no grazing for the cows. Causing ranchers to get rid of cattle.

“It’s heartbreaking for them because they don’t want to sell their cattle,” Soefje said. “They raised them and they don’t want to get rid of them, but they have to.”

If the drought lasts any longer, Luensmann says there may not be many left to sell next year. He said rain is much needed.

“There ain’t nobody that can order that but Mother Nature,” Luensmann said. “General rain is what the whole state needs.”