California’s drought

Larry White, on his horse Zeke, wrangles calves belonging to cattle rancher Rob Frost near Santa Paula so that Frost can give them medicine.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Cattle rancher Rob Frost administers medicine and puts a ear tag on one of his calves near Santa Paula as his wife, Margaret, watches and Larry White has a rope on it.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Rodrigo Leon, left, and Hernando Echabarria put up a fence around the edge of a field near Five Points, an unincorporated community in Fresno County, for fourth-generation rancher Ryan Indart. They will later move Indart’s sheep to graze on the field of alfalfa -- land that he leases.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Indart stands at his family farm in Clovis, Calif. He says he planted seeds for winter wheat in this field, which he depends on to feed the farm’s sheep. But the lack of rain this season has reduced to dirt.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Indart’s sheep roam in a field near Five Points, an unincorporated community in Fresno County.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Indart holds two newborn lambs in Clovis, Calif., as he kneels next to his daughters Cecilia, left, and Lucia.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Indart has already sent 10% of his 4,000 ewes -- which he normally would want to keep -- to the slaughterhouse because he can’t afford the hay to feed them. Above, a field in Clovis, Calif.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Indart holds dry grass at one of his family’s fields in Clovis, Calif. As California’s punishing drought drags on, ranchers are among the first to feel the pain.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)