Weaker Prices Plague Nation's Feeder Cattle Trade Last Week

Weaker Prices Plague Nation’s
Feeder Cattle Trade Last Week

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —(USDA)— Areas through the midsection of the country where most of the feeder steers and heifers are currently moving sold cattle $1-2 lower. Early-week auctions posted strong markets but demand faded late in the week after the CME futures market fell under pressure.

Lightweight stocker cattle were in short supply except for in the Southeast, where calves made up the bulk of receipts and traded $1-3 lower.

Moisture conditions continue to be the major factor affecting feeder cattle prices. Certain areas 100 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico are reportedly dry and causing southern producers to market fall calves sooner than normal. Local backgrounders cannot absorb enough of these lightweight stockers to keep the market up, and orders from farther west are light. Bone-dry conditions in the Rocky Mountains are the main topic of concern in the cattle business.

The severity of the drouth is forcing large strings of feeder cattle to be marketed during this typically slow period. But the early movement of these feeders is minor compared to the exodus of the cow herds from Colorado and Wyoming. Nearly 9000 head of replacement stock sold in their reported auctions in Colorado alone. The surprising thing is how well the market has held up, with most running age pairs selling from $800-900.

Ground zero is in Southeastern Colorado with an epicenter of La Junta. This quiet town of 12,000 people has always been a large cattle marketing area, but has never seen this type of cow-herd selloff. Between its two salebarns, Winter livestock and La Junta Livestock Commission sold more than 27,000 head of replacements in the last month. Virtually all of these, mostly cow-calf pairs, will be leaving the general area. Most will head east and be turned out on lush pastures from Arkansas up through Eastern Nebraska, but some will end up as far away as California.

Some rain did fall from a cool front that stretched from the Texas Panhandle up to Wyoming. The showers were extremely spotty, with most areas getting only traces while a few spots were nearly washed off the map. This is only a band-aid to an injury that’s more like having your heart ripped out, but the relief has to start somewhere.

Offerings weighing more than 600 pounds made up half of the week’s reported auction volume, 44 percent of which were heifers.

Prices are expressed as weighted averages, where available.

Auction receipts totaled 222,600 head.

Some trading:

Texas: 30,800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $105.85, 350-400 lbs. $102.44, 400-450 lbs. $94.46, 450-500 lbs. $89.42, 500-550 lbs. $84.60, 550-600 lbs. $80.46, 600-650 lbs. $77.56, 650-700 lbs. $80.83, 700-750 lbs. $76.99, 750-800 lbs. $76.23, 800-850 lbs. $73.48, 850-900 lbs. $68.19; medium and large No. 1-2 400-450 lbs. $92.34, 450-500 lbs. $90.81, 500-550 lbs. $80.42, 550-600 lbs. $80.39, 600-650 lbs. $75.35, 650-700 lbs. $75.95, 700-750 lbs. $75.04, 750-800 lbs. $74.77, 800-850 lbs. $69.32; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $93.99, 350-400 lbs. $89.35, 400-450 lbs. $84.13, 450-500 lbs. $84.08, 500-550 lbs. $80.43, 550-600 lbs. $77.15, 600-650 lbs. $76.57, 650-700 lbs. $73.58, 700-750 lbs. $74.35, 750-800 lbs. $70.29, 800-850 lbs. $62.13, 875 lbs. $61; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $87.64, 350-400 lbs. $85.08, 400-450 lbs. $81.73, 450-500 lbs. $77.43, 500-550 lbs. $77.08, 550-600 lbs. $75.93, 600-650 lbs. $74.09, 650-700 lbs. $71.11, 700-750 lbs. $72.70, 750-800 lbs. $67.64.

Oklahoma: 43,100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $107.29, 350-400 lbs. $103.81, 400-450 lbs. $97.01, 450-500 lbs. $94.08, 500-550 lbs. $90.39, 550-600 lbs. $85.57, 600-650 lbs. $82.42, 650-700 lbs. $79.01, 700-750 lbs. $78.37, 750-800 lbs. $75.17, 800-850 lbs. $73.45, 850-900 lbs. $71.38; medium and large No. 1-2 550-600 lbs. $86.37, 600-650 lbs. $82.80, 650-700 lbs. $79.25, 700-750 lbs. $77.85, 750-800 lbs. $74.33, 800-850 lbs. $72.52, 850-900 lbs. $69.90; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $96.52, 350-400 lbs. $89.22, 400-450 lbs. $85.61, 450-500 lbs. $82.32, 500-550 lbs. $78.63, 550-600 lbs. $76.85, 600-650 lbs. $75.77, 650-700 lbs. $74.77, 700-750 lbs. $72.19, 750-800 lbs. $69.42, 800-850 lbs. $67.61, 850-700 lbs. $66.21; medium and large No. 1-2 600-650 lbs. $75.02, 650-700 lbs. $74.24, 700-750 lbs. $71.59, 750-800 lbs. $68.29, 800-850 lbs. $66.54, 870 lbs. $70.75.

New Mexico: 5900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $105, 600-650 lbs. $81.02, 650-700 lbs. $81.19, 700-750 lbs. $77.39; medium and large No. 1-2 550-600 lbs. $88.69, 700-750 lbs. $72.12; heifers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $86.51, 500-550 lbs. $80.22, 560 lbs. $75.50, 619 lbs. $75.25, 679 lbs. $74, 700-750 lbs. $69.63, pkg. 759 lbs. $67.25. medium and large No. 1-2 350-400 lbs. $92.69, 400-450 lbs. $83.24, 500-550 lbs. $76.23, 550-600 lbs. $75.13, 650-700 lbs. $73.47.

Kansas: 6600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $101.12, 500-550 lbs. $90.64, 550-600 lbs. $86.51, 600-650 lbs. $82.92, 650-700 lbs. $79.54, 700-750 lbs. $78.72, 750-800 lbs. $75.49, 800-850 lbs. $74 8, 850-900 lbs. $70.93; medium and large No. 1-2 600-650 lbs. $80.63, 650-700 lbs. $75.84, 700-750 lbs. $73.30, 800-850 lbs. $71.62, 850-900 lbs. $64.89; heifers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $85.35, 500-550 lbs. $84.77, 550-600 lbs. $77.60, 600-650 lbs. $76.56, 650-700 lbs. $74.25, 700-750 lbs. $72.75, 750-800 lbs. $69.88, 800-850 lbs. $68.24, 850-900 lbs. $67.25; medium and large No. 1-2 400-450 lbs. $83.67, 450-500 lbs. $79, 600-650 lbs. $75.10, 700-750 lbs. $67.07, 750-800 lbs. $64.45.

Missouri: 19,000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $98.73, 450-500 lbs. $95.20, 500-550 lbs. $91.91, 550-600 lbs. $87.26, 600-650 lbs. $83.70, 650-700 lbs. $79.38, 700-750 lbs. $77.93, 750-800 lbs. $73.44, 800-850 lbs. $74.83, 850-900 lbs. $73.16; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $99.76, 350-400 lbs. $97.77, 400-450 lbs. $93.44, 450-500 lbs. $92.26, 500-550 lbs. $87.26, 550-600 lbs. $85.23, 600-650 lbs. $81.48, 650-700 lbs. $81.68, 700-750 lbs. $76.59, 750-800 lbs. $73.27, 800-850 lbs. $73.66, 850-900 lbs. $72.49; large No. 1 550-600 lbs. $81.10, 600-650 lbs. $78.46, 800-850 lbs. $72.78; large No. 1-2 800-850 lbs. $72.85, 850-900 lbs. $71.64; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $93.54, 350-400 lbs. $93.21, 400-450 lbs. $87.16, 450-500 lbs. $86.41, 500-550 lbs. $84.04, 550-600 lbs. $78.29, 600-650 lbs. $77.04, 650-700 lbs. $75.68, 700-750 lbs. $72.83, 750-800 lbs. $69.81, 800-850 lbs. $67.94, 850-900 lbs. $63.44; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $90.06, 350-400 lbs. $88.69, 400-450 lbs. $85.88, 450-500 lbs. $83.44, 500-550 lbs. $81.52, 550-600 lbs. $78.57, 600-650 lbs. $75.85, 650-700 lbs. $74.04, 700-750 lbs. $73.80, 750-800 lbs. $69.77; large No. 1 550-600 lbs. $78.31, 800-850 lbs. $67.44; large No. 1-2 500-550 lbs. $77.36.

Nebraska: 4500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $103.54, 450-500 lbs. $94.86, 500-550 lbs. $96.91, 550-600 lbs. $89.86, 600-650 lbs. $86.86, 650-700 lbs. $83.65, 700-750 lbs. $80.37, 750-800 lbs. $76.75, 800-850 lbs. $75.34, 850-900 lbs. $74.10; heifers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $96.35, 450-500 lbs. $90.48, 500-550 lbs. $87.08, 550-600 lbs. $80.61, 600-650 lbs. $77.35, 650-700 lbs. $78.88, 700-750 lbs. $74.67, 750-800 lbs. $74.04, 800-850 lbs. $70.70, 850-900 lbs. $69.95.

Colorado: 12,000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $113.64, 400-450 lbs. $102.21, 500-550 lbs. $97.72, 550-600 lbs. $90.70, 600-650 lbs. $91.41, 660 lbs. $85.25, 700-750 lbs. $78.81; medium and large No. 1-2 400-450 lbs. $96.97, 675 lbs. $84; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $105.09, 450-500 lbs. $92.61, 500-550 lbs. $90.68, 550-600 lbs. $83.93, 600-650 lbs. $82.35, 650-700 lbs. $76.18, 750-800 lbs. $69.98, 850 lbs. $68.25; medium and large No. 1-2 350-400 lbs. $93.29, 500-550 lbs. $83.80, 550-600 lbs. $80.73, 640 lbs. $77.

Wyoming: 4600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 500 lbs. $90.50, 550-600 lbs. $86.82, 650 lbs. $84, 650-700 lbs. $84.81, 710 lbs. $78.25, 750-800 lbs. $78.06, 800-850 lbs. $71.48; heifers, medium and large No. 1 500-550 lbs. $86.72, 550-600 lbs. $83.94, 600-650 lbs. $80.64, 650-700 lbs. $80.15, 750-800 lbs. $74.18, 800-850 lbs. $67.55, 850 lbs. $70.50; medium and large No. 1-2 520 lbs. $82.25, 550-600 lbs. $79.39, 660 lbs. $78.75.

Dakotas: 21,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $103.91, 450-500 lbs. $100.97, 500-550 lbs. $95.69, 550-600 lbs. $92.47, 600-650 lbs. $91.08, 650-700 lbs. $87.25, 700-750 lbs. $82.83, 750-800 lbs. $81.76, 800-850 lbs. $77.17, 850-900 lbs. $72.58; medium and large No. 1-2 550-600 lbs. $89.28, 650-700 lbs. $82.56, 700-750 lbs. $78.62, 750-800 lbs. $76.12, 850-900 lbs. $68.60; heifers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $95 3, 450-500 lbs. $93.53, 500-550 lbs. $89.28, 550-600 lbs. $83.59, 600-650 lbs. $83.13, 650-700 lbs. $79.82, 700-750 lbs. $75.96, 750-800 lbs. $74.24, 800-850 lbs. $69.31, 850-900 lbs. $67.79; large No. 1 690 lbs. $71.25, 800-850 lbs. $70.05; medium and large No. 1-2 450-500 lbs. $86.66, 550-600 lbs. $79.13, 600-650 lbs. $75.98, 650-700 lbs. $74.50, 750-800 lbs. $69.61, 800-850 lbs. $63.95, 850-900 lbs. $62.29.

Montana: 1900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 870 lbs. $67.50; medium and large No. 1-2 800-850 lbs. $68.71; heifers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $90.20, 510 lbs. $87, 550-600 lbs. $85.53, 760 lbs. $71.75.

Washington: 900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 700-750 lbs. $77.86, 750-800 lbs. $74.80, 850-900 lbs. $73.18; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 450-500 lbs. $78.94, 650-700 lbs. $73.29, 700-750 lbs. $69.95, 750-800 lbs. $70.21.

Virginia: 1300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $89.86, 535 lbs. $81.75, 550-600 lbs. $86.04, 600-650 lbs. $82.60, 750-800 lbs. $69.64, 825 lbs. $75.50, 850-900 lbs. $71.57; heifers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $80.81, 500-550 lbs. $74.99, 550-600 lbs. $75.17, 600-650 lbs. $70.70, 655 lbs. $69.75, 720 lbs. $63, 760 lbs. $65, 850-900 lbs. $57.28.

Kentucky: 16,200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 200-300 lbs. $108-114, 300-350 lbs. $100-112, 350-400 lbs. $92-102, 400-450 lbs. $91-101, few $104-107.50, 450-500 lbs. $82-92, 500-600 lbs. $82-92, few $93-96, 600-700 lbs. $74-83, few $84-86.50, 700-800 lbs. $71.50-79.50, 800-900 lbs. $67.50-76.70, 900-1000 lbs. $65.90-71.75; heifers, medium and large No. 1 200-300 lbs. $90-100, 300-350 lbs. $84-94, few $95-101, 350-400 lbs. $80-90, 400-450 lbs. $80-88, few $89-92.50, 450-500 lbs. $74-84, 500-600 lbs. $72-82, few $83-86.85, 600-700 lbs. $70-76.50, 700-800 lbs. $66-74.55.

Tennessee: 6300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $101.95, 350-400 lbs. $96.53, 400-450 lbs. $90.48, 450-500 lbs. $87.60, 500-550 lbs. $83.92, 550-600 lbs. $79.79, 600-650 lbs. $75.65, 650-700 lbs. $74.66, 700-750 lbs. $71.51; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $87.30, 350-400 lbs. $83.93, 400-450 lbs. $80.48, 450-500 lbs. $79 7, 500-550 lbs. $75.80, 550-600 lbs. $73.36, 600-650 lbs. $70.71, 650-700 lbs. $69.14.

Arkansas: 7100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $93-106 few to $114, 350-400 lbs. $90-102, 400-450 lbs. $87-98, 450-500 lbs. $83-94, 500-550 lbs. $80-90, 550-600 lbs. $77-87, 600-700 lbs. $74-84, 700-800 lbs. $69-76; medium and large No. 2 300-350 lbs. $80-93, 350-400 lbs. $79-90, 400-450 lbs. $77-87, 450-500 lbs. $73-83, 500-550 lbs. $70-80, 550-600 lbs. $70-77, 600-700 lbs. $65-74; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $83-95 few sales to 98.50, 350-400 lbs. $80-91, 400-450 lbs. $77-87, 450-500 lbs. $75-85, 500-550 lbs. $73-83, 550-600 lbs. $71-79, 600-700 lbs. $69-76, 700-800 lbs. $65-71; medium and large No. 2 300-350 lbs. $73-83, 350-400 lbs. $73-81, 400-500 lbs. $70-77, 500-600 lbs. $65-73, 600-700 lbs. $62-69.

Southeastern complex: 41,100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $110-130, 250-300 lbs. $105-120, 300-350 lbs. $98-111, 350-400 lbs. $88-102, 400-450 lbs. $84-95, 450-500 lbs. $78-90, 500-550 lbs. $75-85, 550-600 lbs. $70-80, 600-700 lbs. $65-75, 700-800 lbs. $62-72; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $100-115, 250-300 lbs. $89-110, 300-350 lbs. $87-98, 350-400 lbs. $80-91, 400-450 lbs. $74-85, few to $87, 450-500 lbs. $71-81, 500-550 lbs. $68-78, few to $81, 550-600 lbs. $65-76, 600-700 lbs. $63-73.

Direct receipts were 57,800 head.

Texas: 12,100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 600-625 lbs. $84.50, 700-775 lbs. $73-78, 800-825 lbs. $72; 500-600 lbs. delivered $85.50-86.50, 700-725 lbs. $73.50; 500-600 lbs. for June delivery $86-87; heifers, medium and large No. 1 600 lbs. $75, 650-700 lbs. $72.50-73.50, 700-750 lbs. $69-73, 800-825 lbs. $69; 550-600 lbs. delivered $77.50-80, 600-675 lbs. $73-76, 700-775 lbs. $69-73 .

Oklahoma: 5300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 775-800 lbs. $73.25-74, 900 lbs. $69-70; medium and large No. 1-2 845 lbs. $70; medium and large No. 2 750 lbs. $72; heifers, medium and large No. 1 725-750 lbs. $70.50-72.50; medium and large No. 1-2 660 lbs. $75.

New Mexico: 7300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 650 lbs. $82-84, 700-750 lbs. $74-77; 400-450 lbs. delivered $95-96; 750 lbs. $1.50 under August CME board; heifers, medium and large No. 1 625-650 lbs. $76-78, 700-750 lbs. $68.50-72; 325 lbs. delivered $100, 575 lbs. $82.

Colorado: 8400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 load 725 lbs. $76; string 475 lbs. delivered $97, couple loads 550 lbs. $91, string 600 lbs. $86.50, 700-800 lbs. $76-80, long string 700 lbs. fancy/thin $85, couple loads 800-825 lbs. $73.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 string 450 lbs. delivered $90, 500-550 lbs. $81-85, several load 685 lbs. $75.50, couple large strings 725-750 lbs. $73.50-74.50.

Wyoming: 4200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 3500 head string thin/fancy 700 lbs. $84, 775 lbs. $76; heifers, medium and large No. 1 750-800 lbs. $72.50-77.

Dakotas: 200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 900 lbs. $72; heifers, medium and large No. 1 750 lbs. $70.

Southwest: steers, medium and large No. 1-2 290 lbs. $104; 490 lbs. delivered $91.50, 685-750 lbs. $75-80, 815 lbs. $72; medium and large No. 2 300 lbs. $93; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 470 lbs. $84.50, 500 lbs. $77-79; medium and large No. 2 600 lbs. $60.

Northwest: steers, medium and large No. 1-2 850-875 lbs. $73; 800 lbs. delivered $75; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 750 lbs. $70, 800-825 lbs. $70, 750 lbs. $73.

Eastern Cornbelt: 500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 775-825 lbs. $76-78.75; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 550-650 lbs. $79.75-81.75, load lot 734 lbs. $77.50.