Nation’s Feeder Cattle Steady
Last Week, Calf Prices Uneven

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —(USDA)— Yearling feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady around the country last week, but calf prices were uneven.

The Southeastern markets traded $2-3 higher as a result of sharply reduced receipts and improved local demand. Newcrop calves in the Plains and Mountain states were weak to $2 lower despite flesh conditions that were largely in the buyers’ favor.

Dry pastures are mostly to blame for the lack of calf demand in areas west of the Mississippi. Growing yards are not the viable option they were in recent years when ration costs were so reasonable. Though the last few years were not good ones for cattle feeders, feed costs were not responsible as costs of gain were relatively low. Not so this year; the blistering hot and dry weather across the Midwest and Eastern Cornbelt is damaging this year’s crop and fueling sharply higher corn prices. Basically, corn is 30 cents per bushel higher than a year ago, and this is causing feeder cattle to trade $15-20 lower than last year.

With the exception of a few areas that are recovering from flash flooding, pretty much the entire nation is experiencing severe drouth. Extreme spottiness of moisture has historically been an indicator of widespread drouth, and this spring and summer’s modest rainfall has been that. The past week, Amarillo, Texas received some much-needed rainfall (in some parts of town). However, the three inches came so quickly that most of the water ran off and gave little benefit, other than settling the feedlot fog.

The Northern Plains of Nebraska and the Dakotas continue to see progressively larger runs of calves, yearlings, and replacements. Salebarn owners and order buyers are being forced to re-schedule their summer vacations and get back to work.

Offerings weighing more than 600 pounds made up 43 percent of the week’s reported auction volume, 43 percent of which were heifers. Prices are expressed as weighted averages where available. Auction receipts totaled 175,100 head, last week 197,800.

Some trading:

Texas: 21,100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $109.67, 350-400 lbs. $107.43, 400-450 lbs. $97.64, 450-500 lbs. $93.49, 500-550 lbs. $86.03, 550-600 lbs. $83.27, 600-650 lbs. $81.75, 650-700 lbs. $79.97, 700-750 lbs. $80.78, 800-850 lbs. $76.70; medium and large No. 1-2 400-450 lbs. $86.30, 450-500 lbs. $96.56, 500-550 lbs. $87.67, 550-600 lbs. $87.13, 600-650 lbs. $79.83, 650-700 lbs. $78.76, 700-750 lbs. $75.77, 750-800 lbs. $74.77; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $99.62, 350-400 lbs. $96.05, 400-450 lbs. $87.09, 450-500 lbs. $85.62, 500-550 lbs. $81.34, 550-600 lbs. $79.30, 600-650 lbs. $75.06, 650-700 lbs. $75.38; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $85.52, 350-400 lbs. $84.86, 500-550 lbs. $77.48, 550-600 lbs. $77.10, 600-650 lbs. $75.30, 650-700 lbs. $75.11, 700-750 lbs. $73.23.

Oklahoma: 14,000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $111.15, 350-400 lbs. $104.94, 400-450 lbs. $98.06, 450-500 lbs. $88.71, 500-550 lbs. $86.45, 550-600 lbs. $81.41, 600-650 lbs. $81.15, 650-700 lbs. $79.50, 700-750 lbs. $79.63, 750-800 lbs. $77.86, 800-850 lbs. $76.58, 850-900 lbs. $74.91; medium and large No. 1-2 500 lbs. $87, 685 lbs. $79, 700-750 lbs. $78.71, 750-800 lbs. $76.61, 800-850 lbs. $76.02, 850-900 lbs. $73.24; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $92.30, 350-400 lbs. $89.93, 400-450 lbs. $85.55, 450-500 lbs. $80.88, 500-550 lbs. $77.22, 550-600 lbs. $78.93, 600-650 lbs. $76.36, 650-700 lbs. $75.83, 700-750 lbs. $74.71, 750-800 lbs. $73.23, 800-850 lbs. $72.22, 850-900 lbs. $69.69; medium and large No. 1-2 650-700 lbs. $75.15, 700-750 lbs. $73.15, 750-800 lbs. $71.16, 800-850 lbs. $70.50.

New Mexico: 3100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $96.54, 400-450 lbs. $90.76; medium and large No. 1-2 500-550 lbs. $86.56, 550-600 lbs. $85.66; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $89.66, 400-450 lbs. $82.47, 500-550 lbs. $78.56, 700-750 lbs. $67.52; medium and large No. 1-2 500-550 lbs. $75.40, 550-600 lbs. $74.66, 600-650 lbs. $72.73, 650-700 lbs. $70.95.

Kansas: 8900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $106.82, 450-500 lbs. $88.70, 500-550 lbs. $85.23, 550-600 lbs. $83.45, 600-650 lbs. $83.38, 650-700 lbs. $82.80, 700-750 lbs. $80.07, 750-800 lbs. $78.39, 800-850 lbs. $76.69, 850-900 lbs. $74.95; medium and large No. 1-2 650-700 lbs. $77.40, 700-750 lbs. $77.09, 750-800 lbs. $75, 800-850 lbs. $74.51, 850-900 lbs. $72.44; heifers, medium and large No. 1 500-550 lbs. $79.05, 550-600 lbs. $79.95, 600-650 lbs. $77.60, 650-700 lbs. $76.80, 700-750 lbs. $75.41, 750-800 lbs. $73.91, 800-850 lbs. $72.34, 850-900 lbs. $70.02; medium and large No. 1-2 600-650 lbs. $73.81, 650-700 lbs. $73.08, 700-750 lbs. $71.77, 750-800 lbs. $69.92, 800-850 lbs. $69.41.

Missouri: 16,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $91.07, 450-500 lbs. $88.48, 500-550 lbs. $85.36, 550-600 lbs. $82.93, 600-650 lbs. $79.84, 650-700 lbs. $79.66, 700-750 lbs. $76.05, 750-800 lbs. $75.02, 800-850 lbs. $75.14, 850-900 lbs. $74.14; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $92.37, 350-400 lbs. $94.46, 400-450 lbs. $88.43, 450-500 lbs. $85.73, 500-550 lbs. $83.21, 550-600 lbs. $83.21, 600-650 lbs. $78.58, 650-700 lbs. $79.09, 700-750 lbs. $77.10, 750-800 lbs. $75.87, 800-850 lbs. $75.73, 850-900 lbs. $75.56; heifers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $85.57, 400-450 lbs. $83.60, 500-550 lbs. $79.25, 550-600 lbs. $75.78, 600-650 lbs. $76.34, 650-700 lbs. $72.50, 700-750 lbs. $72.06, 808 lbs. $72.50; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $84.25, 350-400 lbs. $83.48, 400-450 lbs. $82.17, 450-500 lbs. $83.01, 500-550 lbs. $76.44, 550-600 lbs. $77.07, 600-650 lbs. $76.74, 650-700 lbs. $76.09, 700-750 lbs. $74.50, 750-800 lbs. $73.33, 800-850 lbs. $67.13.

Nebraska: 19,600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $107.99, 350-400 lbs. $105.31, 400-450 lbs. $101.07, 450-500 lbs. $95.41, 500-550 lbs. $91.63, 550-600 lbs. $90.59, 600-650 lbs. $88.60, 650-700 lbs. $83.22, 700-750 lbs. $82.29, 750-800 lbs. $80.28, 800-850 lbs. $79.62, 850-900 lbs. $76.41; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $100.89, 350-400 lbs. $95.66, 400-450 lbs. $90.16, 450-500 lbs. $86.22, 500-550 lbs. $84.62, 550-600 lbs. $83.60, 600-650 lbs. $80.47, 650-700 lbs. $78.65, 700-750 lbs. $76.87, 750-800 lbs. $75.18, 800-850 lbs. $73.84, 850-900 lbs. $71.39.

Colorado: 6100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $109.56, 350-400 lbs. $105.68, 450-500 lbs. $90.92, 520 lbs. $93, 615 lbs. $81.50, 650-700 lbs. $83, 700-750 lbs. $80.03, 795 lbs. $76, 800-850 lbs. $75.23; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $109.56, 400-450 lbs. $89.36, 550-600 lbs. $80, 600-650 lbs. $78.80, 694 lbs. $78.75, 700-750 lbs. $75.48; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $94.41, 350-400 lbs. $93.23, 400-450 lbs. $84.24, 450-500 lbs. $82.84, 517 lbs. $80.50, 650-700 lbs. $75.12, 700-750 lbs. $74.08, 750-800 lbs. $70.18, 880 lbs. $66.50.

Dakotas: 8400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 565 lbs. $86.75, 650-700 lbs. $84.77, 750-800 lbs. $80.17, 850-900 lbs. $75.90; medium and large No. 1-2 750-800 lbs. $78.13, 845 lbs. $70.60; heifers, medium and large No. 1 500-500 lbs. $82.38, 585 lbs. $82.85, 600-650 lbs. $81.32, 650-700 lbs. $77.36, 700-750 lbs. $78.27, 750-800 lbs. $75.01, 800-850 lbs. $73.82, 850-900 lbs. $71.42; medium and large No. 1-2 760 lbs. $70.75, 848 lbs. $68.

Washington: 300 head. Heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 700-750 lbs. $70.02, 750-800 lbs. $71.42, 800-850 lbs. $70.01.

Virginia: 600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 450-600 lbs. $84.13, 550 lbs. $82.45, 600-650 lbs. $73.63; heifers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $75.05, 500-550 lbs. $71.21, 600-650 lbs. $68.15.

Kentucky: 13,800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $91-101, few $104-106.50, 350-400 lbs. $82-92, 400-450 lbs. $85-95, 450-500 lbs. $80-90, 500-550 lbs. $80-88, few $89-91.55, 550-600 lbs. $74-82, 600-650 lbs. $76-83, few $84-86, 650-700 lbs. $70-79, 700-800 lbs. $70-79.30, 800-900 lbs. $68-75.95, 900-1000 lbs. $64-71.70, 1000-1100 lbs. $60-68; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $80-89.50, 350-400 lbs. $74-81, 400-450 lbs. $76-83, 450-500 lbs. $70-78, 500-600 lbs. $70-80, 600-700 lbs. $68-76.55, 700-800 lbs. $65-74, 800-900 lbs. $60-64.50.

Tennessee: 7000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $102.16, 350-400 lbs. $94.45, 400-450 lbs. $85.39, 450-500 lbs. $81.42, 500-550 lbs. $81.46, 550-600 lbs. $77.05, 600-650 lbs. $75.53, 650-700 lbs. $74.04, 700-750 lbs. $71.81, 750-800 lbs. $70.83, three loads 785 lbs. $74, two loads 835 lbs. $72.60; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $82.28, 350-400 lbs. $79.84, 400-450 lbs. $77.36, 450-500 lbs. $75.96, 500-550 lbs. $74.52, 550-600 lbs. $72.60, 600-650 lbs. $69.35, 650-700 lbs. $67.05, 700-750 lbs. $67.81, 750-800 lbs. $62.32, 2 loads 750 lbs. $69.90.

Arkansas: 6900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $95-115 few to $131, 350-400 lbs. $91-102, 400-450 lbs. $87-100, 450-500 lbs. $82-92, 500-550 lbs. $78-88, 550-600 lbs. $74-84, 600-700 lbs. $72-82, 700-800 lbs. $70-77; medium and large No. 2 300-350 lbs. $85-95, 350-400 lbs. $81-91, 400-450 lbs. $77-87, 450-500 lbs. $72-82, 500-550 lbs. $71-78, 550-600 lbs. $68-75, 600-700 lbs. $65-72; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $82-92 few sales to $100, 350-400 lbs. $78-88, 400-450 lbs. $75-85, 450-500 lbs. $74-83, 500-550 lbs. $71-81, 550-600 lbs. $71-77, 600-700 lbs. $67-76, 700-800 lbs. $69-74; medium and large No. 2 300-350 lbs. $72-82, 350-400 lbs. $70-80, 400-500 lbs. $66-76, 500-600 lbs. $62-72, 600-700 lbs. $60-68.

Southeastern complex: 46,400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $110-127, 250-300 lbs. $105-122, 300-350 lbs. $103-113, 350-400 lbs. $95-105, 400-450 lbs. $88-98, 450-500 lbs. $78-88, 500-550 lbs. $74-84, few $87, 550-600 lbs. $70-80 few $82, 600-650 lbs. $68-78, 650-700 lbs. $67-77, 700-750 lbs. $67-72, 750-800 lbs. $64-70; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $97-110, 250-300 lbs. $95-105, 300-350 lbs. $85-95, 350-400 lbs. $78-88, 400-450 lbs. $74-84, 450-500 lbs. $71-81, 500-550 lbs. $70-80, 550-600 lbs. $67-77, 600-650 lbs. $65-74, 650-700 lbs. $62-72.

Direct receipts: 84,400 head, last week 91,100.

Texas: 13,900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 550-600 lbs. $90-91, 600-675 lbs. $80-83.25, 700-800 lbs. $76-79.50, 800-850 lbs. $76.50-77; 600-700 lbs. delivered $75.50-84.50, 700-750 lbs. $76-78.60, 800-885 lbs. $72-77.50; 640 lbs. for September delivery $79; 700-800 lbs. delivered for September-November $76-77; medium and large No. 1-2 625 lbs. delivered $78.50; 725 lbs. delivered for August $76; 750 lbs. delivered $1 over CME board August; heifers, medium and large No. 1 500 lbs. $85, 600-700 lbs. $74-75, 700-750 lbs. $73.50-75; 500-600 lbs. delivered $78-79, 650-700 lbs. $74, 700-800 lbs. $74-76; 600 lbs. for September delivery $74; medium and large No. 1-2 550-600 lbs. delivered $79.50, 600-700 lbs. $72-75.50.

Oklahoma: 11,600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 725-775 lbs. $75-78.50, 800-850 lbs. $74-76, 900 lbs. fleshy $69, 950 lbs. $72; 675 lbs. for August delivery $83, 775 lbs. $77.50; medium and large No. 1-2 750-775 lbs. $74; medium and large No. 2 855 lbs. $68.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 700-750 lbs. $73-74, 800 lbs. fleshy $66; 675 lbs. for August delivery $77.50; medium and large No. 1-2 725 lbs. $71-72.

New Mexico: 3200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 600-650 lbs. $81-84, 725 lbs. $79; 350 lbs. delivered $110, 475 lbs. $96, 500-575 lbs. $90-92; medium and large No. 1-2 650 lbs. $79.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 625-650 lbs. $76-78, 700 lbs. $72.50; 325 lbs. delivered $98, 450 lbs. $86, 500-550 lbs. $78-80.

Colorado: 9500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 725-750 lbs. $78.50-80.50, 810-860 lbs. $78-78.75; string 650 lbs. delivered $87, 700-750 lbs. $80-83.25, 800-825 lbs. $76-78, 900 lbs. $73-75; large string 415 lbs. delivered for September $105.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 string 650 lbs. delivered $79.50, 700-750 lbs. $75-77.50; couple loads 760 lbs. delivered for September $76.50.

Wyoming: 6600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 750-790 lbs. $79.15-83, 850 lbs. $78.50, 900-925 lbs. $72.50-76; medium and large No. 1-2 925 lbs. $70; heifers, medium and large No. 1 760-775 lbs. $76-76.50, 800-825 lbs. $74-75, 850-900 lbs. $72; 775 lbs. delivered $76.25; 760 lbs. for September delivery $75; medium and large No. 1-2 720-775 lbs. $71-75.50.

Dakotas: 2700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 string 790 lbs. $77.15, 800-850 lbs. $76.50-79, 885 lbs. $74.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 string 760 lbs. $76.50, couple loads 825 lbs. $73.50, string 869 lbs. $70.

Montana: 3300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 600-650 lbs. $78-80, 850 lbs. $77, 900-930 lbs. $73; heifers, medium and large No. 1 650 lbs. $72, 750 lbs. $75, 830 lbs. $72.50.

Southwest: 5900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 500 lbs. for October-November delivery $86; medium and large No. 1-2 550-575 lbs. for October $81-81.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 525-565 lbs. for October $75-75.50, 750 lbs. spayed for September $72.

Northwest: 5000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-650 lbs. $83, 600-650 lbs. $78, 750-800 lbs. $72-75, 800-900 lbs. $69-73, 900-950 lbs. $68.50-72; 650 lbs. delivered $80-81, 850 lbs. $76-76.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 700-800 lbs. $69-72, 800-820 lbs. $66; 750 lbs. delivered $74-74.50.

Eastern Cornbelt: 500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 875-900 lbs. $70-74, 900-925 lbs. $68.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-675 lbs. $80-80.50, load 615 lbs. $73.50.

Kentucky: 5400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-700 lbs. $78-83, 700-800 lbs. $74-77, 800-900 lbs. $69-74, 900-975 lbs. $67-71; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 500-600 lbs. $76-81, 600-700 lbs. $72-75, 700-800 lbs. $69-71, 800-875 lbs. $64-68.