The Old Cherry Cattle Co. barn at 6034 Nashville Road, built more than 40 years ago, will now hold livestock auctions at 1 p.m. on Mondays, according to general partner David Bradford.

In September, Cattlemen’s Livestock Market LLC, a group of local investors bought the 70,000-square-foot barn that can hold 5,000 heavy cattle, making several renovations and bringing the adjoining office up to building standards by adding handicapped accessibility.

The 13 acres of land and building were purchased for $245,900, even though it had a cash value of $900,000, according to Warren County property tax records.

The livestock dealer’s license was issued on Jan. 11, according to state records.

&#8220We’re producing a market for the farmer and the buyer,” Bradford said. &#8220We bring those two together.”

The barn also has the capacity for cattle to have access to water and feed while they are being held for auction. The sale and auction area has central heating and air conditioning as well.

The first auction was held Monday, bringing in more than 200 people and selling more that 570 cattle, Bradford said.

&#8220We can provide the farmer with a weekly market they can count on,” Bradford said.

The livestock auction barn will take in cattle from Saturday until Monday morning.

&#8220At no charge to the farmer, you can hold ’em (at the market), we can put them on feed and water and weigh and grade them the day of the sale,” Bradford said.

The feature adds to a better atmosphere for nervous livestock waiting to be sold, he said, and gives farmers more time to arrange for transportation.

&#8220They can line up help to have (cattle) hauled, or we can help them with that,” Bradford said.

Bradford hopes to offer farmers another alternative to existing livestock auction locations in the area.

&#8220When farmers have alternatives, there’s competition and that works to their benefit,” Bradford said.

Since the tobacco buyout, more and more farmers are turning to raising livestock as alternative income besides agriculture, Bradford said.

Nationwide, Kentucky ranked 11th for livestock heads last year – as well as eighth for beef cows and 23rd for milk shows – according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, with Barren County leading the state with 37,100 beef cows raised in 2005.

Bradford said there’s an excess of 10,000 cattle sold in a week in a 50-mile radius of Bowling Green, at livestock auctions in Franklin, Glasgow, Russellville and other places.

Texas native John Fulgham manages Cattlemen’s and has decades of experience in the cattle business, he said, and has lived in Bowling Green for 18 years.

&#8220In Warren County, a lot of people are using land for houses and the amount of cow herds have dropped some,” Fulgham said. &#8220(But) the tobacco buyout is putting people in the cattle business.”

Cattlemen’s employs 16 people, three of which are full-time, and Fulgham is still hiring experienced help.

&#8220It’s a really challenging job, but a really rewarding job also,” Fulgham said. &#8220My job is to make the customer as happy as I can.”

Kentucky’s all-cattle and -calf inventory totaled 2.4 million on Jan. 1 last year, a 7 percent increase from Jan. 1, 2005, according to the KDA. The cattle had an average value per head of $860 last year, a slight increase from 2005’s $810.

Cattle prices averaged $90.90 per hundredweight during 2005 compared with $84.30 during 2004. Calves averaged $123 per hundredweight compared with $112 during 2004.

Nell’s still a staple after 26 years

Nell Hewitt, owner of Nell’s Cafe, the 800-square-foot restaurant connected to the office for Cattlemen’s, will still serve its signature Swiss steaks, kraut and wieners, pork cutlets, and steak and gravy dishes, she said.

Hewitt has operated at the location for the last 26 years.

Last year, Nell’s Cafe was renovated with new countertops, paint and electrical wiring as Cattlemen’s took over the building.

Hewitt remembers when Dr. John O’Brien, a veterinarian, bought the old Cherry Farm in 1988. She said the Cherrys had the barn as a holding location for cattle they bought and sold out of various locations.

The Cherrys have since moved its operations to Vinita, Okla., Bradford said, to a ranch with several thousand acres.

Short & simple

Cattlemen’s Livestock Market and Nell’s Cafe

6034 Nashville Road

Market takes in cattle Saturday, all day, beginning at 7:30 a.m., Sunday beginning at noon, and Monday morning until noon. Auctions are at 1 p.m. on Mondays.

Cafe is open from 6 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Phone: Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, 846-4343 Nell’s Cafe, 843-3340