Panhandle Fed Cattle Sellers,
Buyers $4-5 Apart At Midweek

Plains feedlots and packers were $4-5 apart on price at midweek, bids coming in at $70 and asking prices $74-75.

Last week's holiday-shortened trade in the Texas Panhandle saw mostly $73 trades both Wednesday and Friday, and this week's area showlist is slim at 37,288 head. Those factors have feedyard observers confident of a $74 market.

The Panhandle area count stood at 44,000 head, more than 40,000 of those captives.

Kansas also hadn't untracked at presstime, counting 32,900 head and all of them captives. Nebraska reported 7100 captives in an 8400-head total movement.

Midwest direct areas were not established. Terminals paid anywhere from $68 to $73.

The Southwest reported no sales through midweek. The Northwest was steady to $1 higher in a light test at $114-115 dressed basis.

Stocker and feeder cattle trends were stronger across the country this week.

St. Joseph, Mo. termed prices $1-3 higher on 3500 head, and a roundup of Florida auctions selling 7127 head between them found rates steady to $2 higher. With 4800 head on offer, La Junta, Colo. was $2-3 higher on calves under 500 pounds and steady to $1 higher on heavier weights.

In Texas, Crockett called 1774 head fully steady on weights under 500 pounds and steady to $1 higher on heavier kinds. San Antonio sold 1542 head over two days and bucked the general trend with steady to $4 lower prices. Amarillo was steady to $2 higher on 1174 head.

Oklahoma City receipts totaled 7665 head, the trend steady to $2 higher on feeder weights, steady on steer calves and $2-3 higher on heifer calves. Best 300-350 pound steer calves brought $127-135; 350-400 pounds $116-130; 400-450 pounds $111-119.50; 450-500 pounds $104.50-111.50, thin $112-115; 500-550 pounds $97.50-105; 550-600 pounds $93-98; 600-700 pounds $90.50-95.75; 700-730 pounds $89-90.50; yearlings, 500-600 pounds thin $100-106; 600-700 pounds $93-100; 700-750 pounds $93-95.50; 750-800 pounds $89-93.25; and 800-875 pounds mostly fleshy $84.25-89.50.