Brett Wessler, Staff Writer   |   Updated: June 18, 2012

A lack of rain and the worst wildfires in state history have Colorado cattle ranchers taking more cattle to auction earlier than they expected.

KJCT8 reports the Western Slope Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction in Loma, Colo. has seen a record number of animals at the auction to be sold this year.

While the auction in Loma sells between 200 and 300 cattle in an average week, the dry conditions have the place busy selling up to 1,500 cows per week for the past few weeks. A lack of rain has resulted in fewer pastures to graze, making cattlemen chose between selling cattle early or paying higher feed costs.

Auction sites are busy for the moment, but officials are worried about the long-term implications. With a rush of animals going to auction now, a lot of which weren’t expected to sell for up to five years later, auctions could be sparse for the next decade.