Yearling Feeder Cattle Steady,
Calves Stronger Across Country

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —(USDA)— Yearling feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady around the country last week in the face of higher corn and a weak fat cattle market. However, many of these cattle remain in firm hands as the current market is below some breakeven levels. Yearling producer face the choice of taking their losses now or retaining ownership into the feedlot.

Spring calf prices trended steady to $2 higher and receipts are becoming progressively heavier in the western states. Most of the price advance and improved demand was due to increased quality and size of the offerings. Even the top reputation strings of calves are starting to make their way to town in many drouth-stricken areas.

Ironically, South Dakota ranchers who were gathering calves for market late in the week near Chamberlain, on the Missouri River, had to work in a rainstorm that dropped more than two inches of too little and too late moisture.

Southeastern markets were uneven. This spotty trading was the result of increased receipts pressuring prices at the same time that much-needed rain from tropical storm Bertha was adding support by improving pasture conditions.

The slaughter cattle market continues to struggle, sales quoted $1 lower at $62 live and $98-99 on a dressed basis. Spot August CME cattle futures remain at a premium to cash as contracts settled at $65.22 on Friday and October closed at $68.80. This has caused an onslaught of delivery tenders, which should bring the cash and futures prices together one way or another.

Offerings weighing more than 600 pounds made up only 39 percent of the week's reported auction volume, 41 percent of them heifers. Prices are expressed as weighted averages, where available.

Auction receipts: 209,500 head, last week 168,100.

Some trading:

Texas: 21,600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $110.22, 350-400 lbs. $106.05, 400-450 lbs. $94.04, 450-500 lbs. $88.14, 500-550 lbs. $87.02, 550-600 lbs. $82.60, 600-650 lbs. $87.22, 650-700 lbs. $80.90, 750-800 lbs. $75.84; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $101.69, 350-400 lbs. $94.63, 400-450 lbs. $92.95, 450-500 lbs. $88.51, 500-550 lbs. $84.18, 550-600 lbs. $83.87, 600-650 lbs. $73.86, 650-700 lbs. $77.30, 700-750 lbs. $74.78; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $102.30, 350-400 lbs. $92.99, 400-450 lbs. $87.49, 450-500 lbs. $84.04, 500-550 lbs. $81.35, 550-600 lbs. $78.57, 600-650 lbs. $76.62, 650-700 lbs. $76.27, 700-750 lbs. $74.16; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $88.50, 350-400 lbs. $93.16, 400-450 lbs. $82.36, 450-500 lbs. $78.19, 500-550 lbs. $76.23, 550-600 lbs. $77.34, 600-650 lbs. $75.32, 650-700 lbs. $74.47.

Oklahoma: 19,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $113.20, 350-400 lbs. $105.76, 400-450 lbs. $97.05, 450-500 lbs. $91.86, 500-550 lbs. $86.48, 550-600 lbs. $83.90, 600-650 lbs. $80.01, 650-700 lbs. $80.96, 700-750 lbs. $80.13, 750-800 lbs. $78.90, 800-850 lbs. $77.05, 850-900 lbs. $75.16; medium and large No. 1-2 500-550 lbs. $86.24, 650-700 lbs. $79.46, 700-750 lbs. $79.69, 750-800 lbs. $77.37, 800-850 lbs. $76.91, package 890 lbs. $74.10; heifers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $89.33, 400-450 lbs. $85.07, 450-500 lbs. $80.41, 500-550 lbs. $77.69, 550-600 lbs. $76.42, 600-650 lbs. $76.01, 650-700 lbs. $76.01, 700-750 lbs. $75.58, 750-800 lbs. $74, 800-850 lbs. $72.47, 850-900 lbs. $70.83; medium and large No. 1-2 650-700 lbs. $74.88, 700-750 lbs. $75.58.

New Mexico: 4100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $106.85, 400-450 lbs. $91.88, 600-650 lbs. $81.67, package 680 lbs. $79.50; medium and large No. 1-2 445 lbs. $95.50, 500-550 lbs. $85.20, 750-800 lbs. $72.61; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $93.07, 500-550 lbs. $80.20, 550-600 lbs. $76.32, 600-650 lbs. $76.52, 700-750 lbs. $69.57; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $87.30, 350-400 lbs. $84.73, 550-600 lbs. $73.73.

Kansas: 8400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $102.21, 400-450 lbs. $91.19, 450-500 lbs. $87.70, 550-600 lbs. $87.13, 600-650 lbs. $82.99, 650-700 lbs. $82.12, 700-750 lbs. $80.12, 750-800 lbs. $79.94, 800-850 lbs. $77.76, 850-900 lbs. $75.06; large No. 1 760 lbs. $74.50, 800-850 lbs. $72.32; medium and large No. 1-2 550-600 lbs. $78.73, 600-650 lbs. $78.29, 700-750 lbs. $77.08, 750-800 lbs. $76.33, 800-850 lbs. $74.55, 850-900 lbs. $73.49; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $88.14, 450-500 lbs. $80.81, 500-550 lbs. $80.74, 550-600 lbs. $79.95, 600-650 lbs. $77.84, 650-700 lbs. $77.44, 700-750 lbs. $76.24, 750-800 lbs. $75.07, 800-850 lbs. $74.11, 850-900 lbs. $68.70; medium and large No. 1-2 350-400 lbs. $87.28, 400-450 lbs. $82.68, 450-500 lbs. $80.17, 650-700 lbs. $74.12, 700-750 lbs. $72.43, 850-900 lbs. $68.69.

Missouri: 14,700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-400 lbs. $97.59, 400-500 lbs. $89.55, 500-600 lbs. $86, 600-700 lbs. $78.86, 700-800 lbs. $78.66, 800-900 lbs. $77.98; medium and large No. 1-2 300-400 lbs. $95.01, 400-500 lbs. $85.48, 500-600 lbs. $81.50, 600-700 lbs. $78.13, 700-800 lbs. $77.25, 800-900 lbs. $76.29; large No. 1 600-700 lbs. $79.47, 700-800 lbs. $74.90, 800-900 lbs. $69.86; large No. 1-2 300-400 lbs. $94.45, 500-600 lbs. $80.58, 600-700 lbs. $77.25, 700-800 lbs. $72.88, 800-900 lbs. $76.60; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-400 lbs. $88.56, 400-500 lbs. $81.58, 500-600 lbs. $75.95, 600-700 lbs. $74.04, 700-800 lbs. $70.59; medium and large No. 1-2 300-400 lbs. $83.95, 400-500 lbs. $79.05, 500-600 lbs. $77.11, 600-700 lbs. $75.76, 700-800 lbs. $75.50, 800-900 lbs. $69.54; large No. 1 500-600 lbs. $75.05; large No. 1-2 500-600 lbs. $75.06.

Nebraska: 15,700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $109.96, 350-400 lbs. $105.29, 400-450 lbs. $101.50, 450-500 lbs. $95.61, 500-550 lbs. $94.32, 550-600 lbs. $89.27, 600-650 lbs. $89.20, 650-700 lbs. $85.32, 700-750 lbs. $84.35, 750-800 lbs. $81.02, 800-850 lbs. $80.40, 850-900 lbs. $77.09; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $96.33, 350-400 lbs. $93.01, 400-450 lbs. $91.17, 450-500 lbs. $87.20, 500-550 lbs. $82.49, package 580 lbs. $85.35, 600-650 lbs. $81.96, 650-700 lbs. $80.36, 700-750 lbs. $78.36, 750-800 lbs. $76.50, 800-850 lbs. $75.39, 850-900 lbs. $72.68.

Colorado: 12,400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $107.86, 350-400 lbs. $101.80, 400-450 lbs. $94.64, 450-500 lbs. $93.06, 500-550 lbs. $91.63, 550-600 lbs. $88.27, 600-650 lbs. $79.84, 650-700 lbs. $81.93, package 750 lbs. $80.50, 750-800 lbs. $78.94, 800-850 lbs. $77.03; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $108.40, 350-400 lbs. $97.91, 400-450 lbs. $93.05, 500-550 lbs. $81.62, 550-600 lbs. $76.72, 650-700 lbs. $77.38, 750-800 lbs. $75.75; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $97.46, 350-400 lbs. $92.36, 400-450 lbs. $87.24, 450-500 lbs. $83.53, 500-550 lbs. $82.09, 650-700 lbs. $73.28, 700-750 lbs. $71.10, 750-800 lbs. $73.98, 800 lbs. $70.25; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $89.30, 350-400 lbs. $84.70, 400-450 lbs. $83.27, 450-500 lbs. $78, 600-650 lbs. $73.75, 674 lbs. $73.50, 700-750 lbs. $72.11.

Wyoming: 1600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 380 lbs. $105.75, 460 lbs. $93, 655 lbs. $85.25, 700-750 lbs. $80.84, 750-800 lbs. $79.40, 800-850 lbs. $78.02, 850 lbs. $77.20; medium and large No. 1-2 600-650 lbs. $82.96, 650-700 lbs. $79.27, 775 lbs. $75.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 370 lbs. $96.50, 450 lbs. $86.25, 615 lbs. $81.50, 700-750 lbs. $77.47, 750-800 lbs. $76.97, 800-850 lbs. $74.94, 850-900 lbs. $73.25; medium and large No. 1-2 530 lbs. $83.50.

Dakotas: 17,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $101.96, 550-600 lbs. $87.06, 650-700 lbs. $84.37, 700-750 lbs. $81.07, 750-800 lbs. $81.36, 800-850 lbs. $78, 850-900 lbs. $77.17; large No. 1 850-900 lbs. $75.40; medium and large No. 1-2 450-500 lbs. $86.09, 650-700 lbs. $81.57, 800-850 lbs. $75.18, 850-900 lbs. $73.42; heifers, medium and large No. 1, 595 lbs. $82.75, 600-650 lbs. $83.25, 650-700 lbs. $80.32, 700-750 lbs. $77.47, 750-800 lbs. $75.18, 800-850 lbs. $73.78, 850-900 lbs. $71.03; medium and large No. 1-2 package 390 lbs. $88.25, 600-650 lbs. $76.66, 815 lbs. $73.50, 850-900 lbs. $67.47.

Montana: 400 head. Heifers, medium and large No. 1 820 lbs. $71.60.

Virginia: 3400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $83.06, 500-550 lbs. $80.34, 550-600 lbs. $80.35, 600-650 lbs. $80.16, 650-700 lbs. $79.89, 700-750 lbs. $77.46, 750-800 lbs. $74.14, 800-850 lbs. $70.63, 850-900 lbs. $70.77; heifers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $77.12, 500-550 lbs. $71.04, 550-600 lbs. $72.23, 600-650 lbs. $71.41, 650-700 lbs. $70.96, 700-750 lbs. $67.33, 750-800 lbs. $69.53.

Kentucky: 16,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $90-101, few $105-107, 350-400 lbs. $83-92, 400-450 lbs. $85-94, 450-500 lbs. $78-89, 500-550 lbs. $80-88, few $90-94.25, 550-600 lbs. $76-82, 600-650 lbs. $74-82.50, few $84-85.25, 650-700 lbs. $70-77, 700-800 lbs. $69-78, 800-900 lbs. $66.50-75, 900-1000 lbs. $66-70; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $79-79.50, 350-400 lbs. $73-82, 400-450 lbs. $73-82.50, 450-500 lbs. $69-76.50, 500-600 lbs. $73-82.50, 600-700 lbs. $68-77, few $79.50-81.50, 700-800 lbs. $64.50-73, few $74-75.

Tennessee: 8800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $104.59, 350-400 lbs. $92.25, 400-450 lbs. $83.51, 450-500 lbs. $80.52, 500-550 lbs. $79.49, 550-600 lbs. $78.12, 600-650 lbs. $76.58, 650-700 lbs. $75.18, 700-750 lbs. $74.70, 750-800 lbs. $70.94, 800-850 lbs. $71.35; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $81.99, 350-400 lbs. $79.02, 400-450 lbs. $76.35, 450-500 lbs. $74.84, 500-550 lbs. $73.75, 550-600 lbs. $72.20, 600-650 lbs. $70.49, 650-700 lbs. $69.06 700-750 lbs. $67.17.

Arkansas: 7300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $95-112, few to $123, 350-400 lbs. $91-102, 400-450 lbs. $87-100, 450-500 lbs. $83-93, 500-550 lbs. $79-89, 550-600 lbs. $76-86, 600-700 lbs. $73-83, 700-800 lbs. $70-79; medium and large No. 2 300-350 lbs. $85-95, 350-400 lbs. $81-91, 400-450 lbs. $77-87, 450-500 lbs. $73-83, 500-550 lbs. $71-79, 550-600 lbs. $68-76, 600-700 lbs. $65-73; medium and large No. 3 300-400 lbs. $75-85, 400-500 lbs. $68-78, 500-600 lbs. $66-73; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $85-96, 350-400 lbs. $81-91, 400-450 lbs. $78-88, 450-500 lbs. $75-85, 500-550 lbs. $73-83, 550-600 lbs. $70-77, 600-700 lbs. $68 -76, 700-800 lbs. $68-73; medium and large No. 2 300-350 lbs. $75-85, 350-400 lbs. $70-81, 400-500 lbs. $68-78, 500-600 lbs. $63-73, 600-700 lbs. $60-68; medium and large No. 3 300-400 lbs. $70-77, 400-500 lbs. $62-72, 500-700 lbs. $60-70.

Southeastern complex: 57,000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $110-130, 250-300 lbs. $105-120, 300-350 lbs. $100-112, some to $116, 350-400 lbs. $90-108, mostly $96-108, 400-450 lbs. $85-95, some to $100, 450-500 lbs. $78-88, 500-550 lbs. $72-82 some to $85, 550-600 lbs. $70-80, 600-700 lbs. $66-76, 700-800 lbs. $66-73; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $92-102, 250-300 lbs. $85-98, 300-350 lbs. $85-96, 350-400 lbs. $78-92, mostly $82-92, 400-450 lbs. $81-87, 450-500 lbs. $74-84, 500-550 lbs. $72-82, 550-600 lbs. $68-78, 600-650 lbs. $66-76, 650-700 lbs. $65-72.

Direct receipts: 86,800 head, last week 70,200.

Texas: 23,500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 675 lbs. $80, 700-800 lbs. $75.75-81.75, 800-850 lbs. $74-77; 600-700 lbs. delivered $80-85.50, 700-800 lbs. $75.25-81, 800-875 lbs. $74-81; 625 lbs. for August delivery $82.50, 600-650 lbs. for September $79, 750 lbs. for October $77; 700-725 lbs. delivered for August $79, 550-600 lbs. for September-November $85; heifers, medium and large No. 1 675-725 lbs. $74; 550 lbs. delivered $81, 600-700 lbs. $74-76.25, 700-775 lbs. $74.50-77.50; 600 lbs. for August-September delivery $74-77.50; 600-700 lbs. delivered for August $74.50-78.75, 575 lbs. for September $79.25, 550-600 lbs. for October-November $83.75-84.25, 600 lbs. for November $79.50.

Oklahoma: 7800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 625 lbs. $84, 725 lbs. $77.50-78, 750-775 lbs. $77-79, 800-850 lbs. $75-78; medium and large No. 1-2 750-775 lbs. $75.25-76; heifers, medium and large No. 1 550 lbs. $81, 700-750 lbs. $72-76, 800 lbs. fancy $72; 750 lbs. for September delivery $72.

New Mexico: 5000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 375 lbs. delivered $105, 450 lbs. $96, 550 lbs. $90; medium and large No. 1-2 675 lbs. $80; 700 lbs. for October delivery $80.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 700 lbs. $73; 500-575 lbs. delivered $78-80.

Colorado: 8000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 550-600 lbs. $86.90-91.25, string 650 lbs. $85, 725-775 lbs. $77-80.10, couple loads 850 lbs. $77, 700-750 lbs. $80-82.50, 800-830 lbs. $77-80; medium and large No. 1-2 string 750 lbs. $77; heifers, medium and large No. 1 few loads 600 lbs. delivered $80.60, 710-725 lbs. $77-77.25, few loads 900 lbs. $71.

Wyoming: 8200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400 lbs. $103, 775 lbs. $78; 650 lbs. delivered $84.25, 775 lbs. $78, 825-860 lbs. $75.50-77, 840 lbs. $80, 900 lbs. $73; 435 lbs. for October delivery $90; heifers, medium and large No. 1 390 lbs. $95; 410 lbs. for October delivery $83, 760 lbs. $75-77, 800 lbs. $75.50, 825 lbs. for September $72.50, 900 lbs. $71.

Dakotas: 3700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 750 lbs. $80, 850-900 lbs. $74.50-78, 925 lbs. $74; string 870 lbs. for September delivery $74; heifers, medium and large No. 1 750 lbs. $76, 825-850 lbs. $75-76, 850 lbs. $74.

Montana: 6200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 880 lbs. $76, 950 lbs. $67; 500 lbs. for October delivery $85, 600-625 lbs. $79-80, 650-675 lbs. $77-77.50, 700 lbs. $75-79; heifers, medium and large No. 1 725 lbs. $74.50, 900 lbs. $68; 775 lbs. for September delivery $72.50, 460 lbs. for October $78, 575 lbs. $75, 600-640 lbs. $71-74, 675-680 lbs. $74.50-75.

Southwest: 6400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 800 lbs. $75; 450-460 lbs. for October-November delivery $90-91; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 430 lbs. for October-November delivery $82, 690-700 lbs. for September-October $74-76.

Northwest: 3800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-650 lbs. $77.50, 800-900 lbs. $72; 750 lbs. delivered $75-79, 850-900 lbs. $73-74; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 700-750 lbs. $70-72, 800-850 lbs. $69; 750-800 lbs. delivered $70.50-73, 800-850 lbs. $72.

Eastern Cornbelt: 800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 550-575 lbs. $87.50, 700-750 lbs. $78; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 675-700 lbs. $77.50-79.50, 700-800 lbs. $74-75.50.

Kentucky: 4600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-700 lbs. $78-83, 700-800 lbs. $73.50-77, 800-900 lbs. $69-74, 900-975 lbs. $69-71; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 500-600 lbs. $76-82, 600-700 lbs. $72-76, 700-800 lbs. $69-72, 800-875 lbs. $66-69.