Plains Feedlots Quiet After
Sales Flurry Late Last Week

Plains fed cattle trade last week was delayed so long that it rolled over to Friday, meaning numbers were counted on this week's tally. As of midweek, those numbers had no fresh company as would-be buyers bid $67 and would-be sellers sought $70-71.

Texas Panhandle feedlots sold almost 42,000 Friday at mostly $69. Another 49,300 captives bumped the total through Wednesday to almost 91,000. This week's showlist stood at roughly 64,000 head.

Kansas was as quiet as Texas, counting 59,500 head; captives made up 38,300 of those and Friday sales the balance. Nebraska recorded a bit of midweek action at mostly $109 dressed, to boost the week-to-date total there to 35,700 head.

Midwest direct areas saw prices of $68.50-69 live and $108-109 Wednesday, terminals $66-68.80.

The Southwest was quiet as usual through midweek under limited to fair interest and inquiry. The Northwest was steady to $1 lower in slow trade at $108 dressed.

Stocker and feeder cattle prices appeared to have recovered from the doldrums of the past couple of weeks, registering steady to higher trends most places.

St. Joseph, Mo. called 3500 head steady to $2 higher, instances $3-4 higher on weights under 525 pounds. A roundup of four Florida auctions counting 3889 head bewtween them found a steady market. With receipts of 3786 head, La Junta, Colo. was steady to $1 higher on calves and steady on yearlings.

In Texas, Crockett sold fewer than 1000 head at generally steady to firm rates on weights under 500 pounds, steady to $1 higher on heavier kinds. San Antonio was steady to firm Monday, also on fewer than 1000 head. Steers were steady to $1 higher and heifers steady at Amarillo on offerings of 1714 head.

Oklahoma City's trade area was blanketed by ice and snow, reducing receipts to an uncharacteristically light 1375 head; prices on represented classes trended steady to $2 higher. Best 500-550 pound steer calves earned $93.50-94; 600-700 pounds $88-90.50; 700-800 pounds $85.50-88.25; 800-850 pounds $85-86.75; 850-900 pounds $79.50-84; 900-950 pounds $78-80.50; and a few 1050-1060 pounds $72.50-74.25.