Cletus the 3,000-pound steer sold at Ramsay auction

Cletus, a 2,950-pound Hereford, walked into the ring Tuesday at the Montana Livestock Auction in Ramsay. The 10-year-old behemoth doesn't go anywhere quickly, especially not when you want him to, so the men in cowboy hats lounging against bleachers had to sit and wait. Finally, Cletus made his entrance and the crowd whistled and gasped. Owner and breeder Bill McIntosh of Avon watched the bidding. "I do kind of hate to see him go," he said. "But you've got to be practical in this business." Cletus sold to a buyer from Minnesota for about $1,600, and the big Hereford who was lead steer for almost a decade, was sent off for slaughter. Cletus has always been big, about 725 pounds as an April calf, and he just kept getting bigger. McIntosh's children wanted to put him into the fair circuit, but he was worried that Cletus was just too large. Still, the animal found a home on the ranch and made himself useful. When it came time to say goodbye, McIntosh was disappointed the Hereford didn't break the 3,000-pound mark. He weighed 3,100 pounds last year and just over 3,000 pounds earlier this month, but transit usually causes them to lose weight. "I guess he wintered a little rough," said McIntosh...more