Plains Fed Cattle Trade Nil,
Buyers And Sellers $2-3 Apart

Fresh on the heels of a trading victory last week, Plains feedlots were holding out for more money at presstime.

Bids in the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma and Kansas areas were coming in at about a steady $73 at midweek, but feedlots sought $75-76 on a Panhandle showlist of 72,730 head and 39,907 captives. Last week's movement was brisk at mostly $73, a few to $73.50. That represented a $2-3 improvement over the week before.

Helping keep a lid on trade was a report of cattle being tested for hoof and mouth disease in Kansas. It gave the bears some ammunition to hammer the futures board, but turned out to be an exaggerated reaction to a precautionary test.

Elsewhere, USDA reported limited direct trade at $73.50-76 live and $118-120 dressed. Midwest terminals paid $70.50-74.10.

Stocker and feeder cattle prices were generally steady to higher across the country this week, but there were exceptions.

St. Joseph, Mo. termed 3000 head firm to $2 higher, and a roundup of four Florida auctions counting 4400 head between them found steady going. La Junta, Colo. offered 7774 head and reported steers under 600 pounds $3 higher, 600-700 pounds $1 higher and heifers steady except 400-500 pounds $2 higher; yearling steers and heifers were mostly steady to $1 higher.

In Texas, Tulia bucked the trend with 4033 head selling steady to $2 lower. Hallettsville was mostly steady on 1490 head and Graham steady on 1618 head, Pleasanton sold about 1000 head $3-4 higher on steers and steady to $1 higher on heifers. With about 5000 on hand, Amarillo was steady to instances $2-3 higher on weights under 800 pounds and steady to $2 lower on heavier kinds.

Oklahoma City receipts came to 17,400 head. Calves were steady to $2 higher, feeder steers $1-2 lower and feeder heifers steady to $1 lower. Best 400-450 pound steer calves brought $108.50-113, a lot weighing 370 pounds $123; 450-500 pounds $107-111.50; 500-550 pounds $103-108; 550-600 pounds $94-99, thin $102.50-105; 600-650 pounds $86.50-93.50, thin $94.50-98.50; 650-700 pounds $83.75-90.50; 700-750 pounds $80-86; 750-800 pounds $78.25-83.75, fleshy 750-800 pounds $77.75-78.75; 800-850 pounds $75.25-80.50, fleshy $75.75-76.10; 850-900 pounds $73.25-77.50, fleshy $72.75-74.50; 900-950 pounds $70-74.50; 950-1000 pounds $71.75-74.75; and 1000-1050 pounds $70.25-71.25.