ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —(USDA)— Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher around the country last week except for a $2-3 lower trend in the Southeast calf country.

Feeder cattle buyers looked at the past several cattle on feed reports and became optimistic. Dwindling total numbers and several months of sharply lower replacement numbers compared to a year ago spurred demand.

The supply side looked more favorable for ownership in contrast to the past several crops that have lost money. However, five-year average comparisons are not so bright. There is a lot of meat out there to be cleaned up. Year-to-date beef production figures are four percent larger and pork production is up 3.2 percent. Hog slaughter was over two million head and prices dropped down under $20. Poultry people are using all kinds of marketing gimmicks to get rid of buffalo wings and other chicken parts. Locker plants and cold storage warehouses are bulging with all kinds of meat.

Cattle slaughter was well over 700,000 head again. Continuous kills of this magnitude are working on feedlot numbers with the sharp drop in replacements. However, average slaughter weight is still 25 pounds above last year’s heavy weights. Demand is good for beef considering the supply picture, even though slaughter cattle sold $1 lower at $64 compared to $70 a year ago.

The weekend was the last big cookout of the year and economic recovery remains slow. Corn prices are 25 percent higher than a year ago, and finished CME cattle futures do not hit $72 until spring of next year.

Offerings weighing more than 600 pounds made up only 34 percent of the week’s volume, heifers 44 percent. Prices are expressed as weighted averages, where available.

Auction receipts 320,000 head, last week 225,200.

Texas: 27,700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $108.99, 350-400 lbs. $105.58, 400-450 lbs. $96.30, 450-500 lbs. $89.37, 500-550 lbs. $85.15, 550-600 lbs. $79.85, 600-650 lbs. $81.88, 650-700 lbs. $76.21, 700-750 lbs. $76, 750-800 lbs. $77.92, 800-850 lbs. $74.21; medium and large No. 1-2 400-450 lbs. $90.80, 450-500 lbs. $88.78, 500-550 lbs. $84.63, 600-650 lbs. $78.87, 650-700 lbs. $78.92, 700-750 lbs. $76.70, 750-800 lbs. $79.51, 800-850 lbs. $77.04; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $96.18, 350-400 lbs. $93.99, 400-450 lbs. $85.44, 450-500 lbs. $84.15, 500-550 lbs. $80.57, 550-600 lbs. $78.36, 600-650 lbs. $74.76, 650-700 lbs. $72.82, 700-750 lbs. $73.60; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $83.05, 350-400 lbs. $85.14, 400-450 lbs. $81.80, 450-500 lbs. $80.72, 500-550 lbs. $77.26, 550-600 lbs. $75.07, 600-650 lbs. $74.89, 650-700 lbs. $74.48, 760 lbs. $73.40, 800-850 lbs. $68.92.

Oklahoma: 22,900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $112.64, 350-400 lbs. $103.04, 400-450 lbs. $97.02, 450-500 lbs. $91.12, 500-550 lbs. $86.03, 550-600 lbs. $84.07, 600-650 lbs. $83.42, 650-700 lbs. $83.08, 700-750 lbs. $82.14, 750-800 lbs. $79.85, 800-850 lbs. $78.99, 850-900 lbs. $76.98; medium and large No. 1-2 500-550 lbs. $85.53, 550-600 lbs. $81.80, 650-700 lbs. $82.24, 700-750 lbs. $80.06, 750-800 lbs. $79.77, 800-850 lbs. $77.98, 850-900 lbs. $74.49; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $92.97, 350-400 lbs. $88.99, 400-450 lbs. $85.89, 450-500 lbs. $81.41, 500-550 lbs. $77.51, 550-600 lbs. $78.50, 600-650 lbs. $78.26, 650-700 lbs. $78.29, 700-750 lbs. $76.87, 750-800 lbs. $76.04, 800-850 lbs. $72.66, 850-900 lbs. $70.83; medium and large No. 1-2 450-500 lbs. $78.64, 550-600 lbs. $78.55, 600-650 lbs. $76.49, 700-750 lbs. $76.69, 800-850 lbs. $72.43.

New Mexico: 4700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $95.60, 500-550 lbs. $78.93, 600-650 lbs. $78.94, 650-700 lbs. $82.75; medium and large No. 1-2 350-400 lbs. $103.21, 400-450 lbs. $92.67, 450-600 lbs. $84.92, 500-550 lbs. $83.26, 550-600 lbs. $87.36; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $91.40, 400-450 lbs. $84.91, 450-600 lbs. $79.06, 550-600 lbs. $76.09, 800-850 lbs. $70.56; medium and large No. 1-2 450-500 lbs. $80.15, 500-550 lbs. $73.02, 550-600 lbs. $73.96.

Kansas: 3100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 550-600 lbs. $89.65, 600-650 lbs. $84.04, 650-700 lbs. $84.96, 700-750 lbs. $81.96, 750-800 lbs. $80.73, 800-850 lbs. $79.97, 850-900 lbs. $78.32; medium and large No. 1-2 500-550 lbs. $85.20, 700-750 lbs. $79, 750-800 lbs. $77.06; Holsteins, large No. 3 585 lbs. $50.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $87.52, 550-600 lbs. $81.31, 600-650 lbs. $79.39, 650-700 lbs. $78.76, 700-750 lbs. $78.33, 750-800 lbs. $76.13, 800-850 lbs. $73.36; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $90.36, 450-500 lbs. $84, 700-750 lbs. $75.44.

Missouri: 18,200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $102.12, 350-400 lbs. $97.17, 400-450 lbs. $93.65, 450-500 lbs. $91.15, 500-550 lbs. $86.38, 550-600 lbs. $85.96, 600-650 lbs. $85.04, 650-700 lbs. $81.78, 700-750 lbs. $80.28, 750-800 lbs. $79.79, 800-850 lbs. $77.67, 850-900 lbs. $73.52; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $104.45, 350-400 lbs. $94.30, 400-450 lbs. $89.32, 450-500 lbs. $87.23, 500-550 lbs. $83.91, 550-600 lbs. $84.62, 600-650 lbs. $81.56, 650-700 lbs. $80.67, 700-750 lbs. $80.31, 750-800 lbs. $76.03, 800-850 lbs. $76.33, 850-900 lbs. $77; Holsteins, large No. 3 450-500 65.64, 500-550 lbs. $63.35, 550-600 lbs. $60.52, 600-650 lbs. $59.12, 650-700 lbs. $56.68, 700-750 lbs. $56.83, 750-800 lbs. $56.37, 800-850 lbs. $55.16, 850-900 lbs. $54.81; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $92.15, 350-400 lbs. $87.66, 400-450 lbs. $84.49, 450-500 lbs. $82.32, 500-550 lbs. $79.48, 550-600 lbs. $78.42, 600-650 lbs. $74.39, 700-750 lbs. $75.23, 800-850 lbs. $69.92; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $87.40, 350-400 lbs. $86.19, 400-450 lbs. $81.90, 450-500 lbs. $80.86, 500-550 lbs. $78.03, 550-600 lbs. $77.84, 600-650 lbs. $77.02, 650-700 lbs. $74.50, 700-750 lbs. $72.90, 750-800 lbs. $73.69, 800-850 lbs. $70.13.

Nebraska: 11,700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $112.96, 350-400 lbs. $105.95, 400-450 lbs. $101.17, 450-500 lbs. $97.01, 500-550 lbs. $94.73, 550-600 lbs. $91.17, 600-650 lbs. $88.43, 650-700 lbs. $88.09, 700-750 lbs. $86.34, 750-800 lbs. $85.08, 800-850 lbs. $82.71, 850-900 lbs. $80.12; medium and large No. 1-2 450-500 lbs. $93.45, 670 lbs. $80.83, 800-850 lbs. $77.99; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $97.71, 350-400 lbs. $97.57, 400-450 lbs. $92.57, 450-500 lbs. $87.57, 500-550 lbs. $86.35, 550-600 lbs. $84.16, 600-650 lbs. $81.80, 650-700 lbs. $81.26, 700-750 lbs. $80.58, 750-800 lbs. $78.02, 800-850 lbs. $77.66, 850-900 lbs. $74.68.

Colorado: 11,800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $116.01, 350-400 lbs. $109.84, 400-450 lbs. $100.30, 450-500 lbs. $93.84, 500-550 lbs. $87.22, 550-600 lbs. $85.92, 650-700 lbs. $83.47, 700-750 lbs. $81.87, 780 lbs. $78.50, 820 lbs. $77.64, 850-900 lbs. $72.86; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $110.67, 350-400 lbs. $107.10, 400-450 lbs. $96.47, 450-500 lbs. $85.07, 500-550 lbs. $84.05, 575 lbs. $84.05, 630 lbs. $84.50, 665 lbs. $76.50, 700 lbs. $77.50, 750-800 lbs. $74.72, 875 lbs. $70.25; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $96.73, 350-400 lbs. $92.34, 400-450 lbs. $86.37, 450-500 lbs. $83.66, 500-550 lbs. $79.87, 620 lbs. $75.75, 700-750 lbs. $75.80, 795 lbs. $71.75, 850-900 lbs. $66.76; medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $90.86, 350-400 lbs. $85.27, 400-450 lbs. $81.30, 450-500 lbs. $77.50, 520 lbs. $77.50, 670 lbs. $75.

Wyoming: 600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 395 lbs. $101, 800-850 lbs. $76.85, 850-900 lbs. $76.20; heifers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $88.37, 750-800 lbs. $75.02, 850-900 lbs. $74.39.

Dakotas: 17,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 620 lbs. $85.75, 650-700 lbs. $86.64, 700-750 lbs. $79.92, 750-800 lbs. $83.93, 800-850 lbs. $81.25, 850-900 lbs. $79.29; medium and large No. 1-2 750-800 lbs. $77.02, 850-900 lbs. $73.43, Holsteins large No. 3 package 860 lbs. $53.73; heifers, medium and large No. 1 550-600 lbs. $82.65, 600-650 lbs. $77.71, 650-700 lbs. $81.55, 700-750 lbs. $78.17, 750-800 lbs. $77.83, 800-850 lbs. $77.09, 850-900 lbs. $75.70; medium and large No. 1-2 550 lbs. $82, 800-850 lbs. $72.68, 850-900 lbs. $70.98.

Washington: 1600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 440 lbs. $96, 518 lbs. $79, 690 lbs. $75.75, 755 lbs. $74, 830 lbs. $71.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 468 lbs. $79.50, 600-650 lbs. $73.39, 666 lbs. $74, 709 lbs. $71.

Virginia: 1500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $86.20, 550-600 lbs. $79.67, 600-650 lbs. $75.42, 650-700 lbs. $77.13, 700-750 lbs. $72.83; medium and large No. 2 350-400 lbs. $95.33, 450-500 lbs. $84.78, 500-550 lbs. $78.27, 600-650 lbs. $71.39, 700-750 lbs. $71.93; heifers, medium and large No. 1 400-450 lbs. $70, 450-500 lbs. $69.39, 500-550 lbs. $69.12, 600-650 lbs. $67.97.

Kentucky: 18,600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $93-104, few $105-109, 350-400 lbs. $85-95, 400-450 lbs. $84-94.50, 450-500 lbs. $78-86, 500-550 lbs. $79-88.50, 550-600 lbs. $73-82, 600-650 lbs. $74-84, 650-700 lbs. $69-79, 700-800 lbs. $71-80, few $81-82.50, 800-900 lbs. $67-76.50, 900-1000 lbs. $63-70; Holsteins, large No. 3 300-400 lbs. $61-69, 400-500 lbs. $60-65.25, 500-600 lbs. $53-62, 600-700 lbs. $51-60, 700-800 lbs. $50-53, 800-900 lbs. few $52; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $77-87, few $88-90, 350-400 lbs. $73-82, 400-450 lbs. $73-82.50, 450-500 lbs. $70-77, 500-550 lbs. $72-80, few $80-82.70, 550-600 lbs. $68-76, 600-700 lbs. $66-76.50, few $78-79.20, 700-800 lbs. $65-76.

Tennessee: 9700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $104.59, 350-400 lbs. $91.01, 400-450 lbs. $84.03, 450-500 lbs. $81.12, 500-550 lbs. $78.20, 550-600 lbs. $77.49, 600-650 lbs. $76.37, 650-700 lbs. $76.16, 700-750 lbs. $72.53, 750-800 lbs. $73.46, 800-850 lbs. $67.79; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $83.37, 350-400 lbs. $79.04, 400-450 lbs. $74.56, 450-500 lbs. $72.84, 500-550 lbs. $71.85, 550-600 lbs. $70.80, 600-650 lbs. $69.69, 650-700 lbs. $68-72, 700-750 lbs. $67.94, 750-800 lbs. $69.07, 800-850 lbs. $64.12.

Arkansas: 9000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $95-110, few to $117, 350-400 lbs. $91-103, 400-450 lbs. $86-99, 450-500 lbs. $82-92, 500-550 lbs. $77-87, 550-600 lbs. $74-84, 600-700 lbs. $73-83, 700-800 lbs. $70-78; 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. $70-77, 550-600 lbs. $66-74, 600-700 lbs. $65-72; Holsteins, large No. 3 300-500 lbs. $59-60, 500-600 lbs. $55-57; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $83-94 few to $103, 350-400 lbs. $79-90, 400-450 lbs. $75-85, 450-500 lbs. $73-83, 500-550 lbs. $71-80, 550-600 lbs. $68-77, 600-700 lbs. $68-76, 700-800 lbs. $68-75; medium and large No. 2 300-350 lbs. $73-83, 350-400 lbs. $70-80, 400-500 lbs. $66-76, 500-600 lbs. $61-71, 600-700 lbs. $60-67.

Southeastern complex: 58,900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $110-126, 250-300 lbs. $104-124, 300-350 lbs. $97-110, few $113, 350-400 lbs. $90-102, 400-450 lbs. $82-92, 450-500 lbs. $74-84, few $89, 500-550 lbs. $70-80 few $84, 550-600 lbs. $68-78, few $80, 600-650 lbs. $66-76, 650-700 lbs. $65-75, 700-750 lbs. $65-73, 750-800 lbs. $65-70; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $100-113, 250-300 lbs. $88-100, few $103, 300-350 lbs. $80-91, few $95, 350-400 lbs. $75-85, few $89, 400-450 lbs. $72-83, few $85, 450-500 lbs. $70-80, 500-550 lbs. $67-76, 550-600 lbs. $65-75, 600-650 lbs. $63-72, 650-700 lbs. $62-68.

Direct receipts 97,300 head, last week 120,800.

Texas: 33,000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 700-775 lbs. $76-82, mostly $78-79.50, 300 head 700 lbs. fancy $85, 800-825 lbs. $77-79, 925 lbs. $73; 650-675 lbs. delivered $81-86.50, 700-800 lbs. $77-81; 650-700 lbs. for October delivery $80.50-82.50, 775 lbs. for September $79; 600-650 lbs. delivered for October-November $82.25-87.50, 710-750 lbs. $77-81; medium and large No. 1-2 550 lbs. $82, 775 lbs. $76; 675 lbs. delivered $77.50, 800-810 lbs. $76.50; medium and large No. 2-3, Mexican origin, 550 lbs. delivered $80; heifers, medium and large No. 1 650 lbs. $75, 700-750 lbs. $75-77; 500-600 lbs. delivered $82.75-86, 600-700 lbs. $76.25-81.50, 700-750 lbs. $74-78.75; 625-660 lbs. for October delivery $76-77; 575 lbs. delivered for October $82.50, 650 lbs. $77; medium and large No. 1-2 600-700 lbs. delivered $71-76, 725 lbs. $75.50; 750 lbs. delivered for December $71.50.

Oklahoma: 7900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 570 lbs. $87, 650 lbs. $85, 700-775 lbs. $79-81.50, 825-875 lbs. $76-79; medium and large No. 1-2 800 lbs. $76; 800 lbs. for December delivery $74; heifers, medium and large No. 1 620 lbs. $78, 700-775 lbs. $74-79.50; medium and large No. 1-2 700 lbs. for October delivery $74.

New Mexico: 5700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 600-675 lbs. $82-86, 725- 750 lbs. $78-79; 300-375 lbs. delivered $105-115, 400-450 lbs. $96- 98, 500-550 lbs. $88-90; 625-675 lbs. for October delivery $83-84.50; medium and large No. 1-2 550-575 lbs. $80-82, 600 lbs. $78; heifers, medium and large No. 1 600-625 lbs. $78-80, 700-725 lbs. $74; 375 lbs. delivered $90, 425-475 lbs. $84-86, 500-575 lbs. $80-82, 625 lbs. $81; medium and large No. 1-2 550 lbs. $75; 700 lbs. $3.50 under November CME board.

Colorado: 7800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 725-750 lbs. delivered $83-84, 800-850 lbs. $77.80-81, 900-925 lbs. $73.50-76.35; couple loads 480 lbs. for October delivery $92; medium and large No. 1-2 770 lbs. $77.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 few loads 750 lbs. $75, string 825 lbs. $77.35; string 740 lbs. delivered $77, 800-850 lbs. $72-76.50; couple loads 450 lbs. for October delivery $86; string 825 lbs. delivered for October $77.35.

Wyoming: 10,500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 530 lbs. $92, 690 lbs. $84.50, 750-775 lbs. $82-83, 800-835 lbs. $80, 850-875 lbs. $76.75-79, 900 lbs. $74, for Oct 480-520 lbs. $89-92; medium No. 1 750 lbs. $80; heifers, medium and large No. 1 730-775 lbs. $78.50-79, 800-850 lbs. $73-77; 450-480 lbs. for October delivery $83.50-86; medium 1 700 lbs. $77.50.

Dakotas: 1600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 several loads 800 lbs. $80, several loads 875 lbs. $77, several loads 900 lbs. $75.50; heifers, medium and large No. 1 couple loads 775 lbs. $76, few loads 825 lbs. $76.

Montana: 1500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 900 lbs. $73.50, 950 lbs. $70.50; 500 lbs. for October delivery $86, 575 lbs. $83, 600-625 lbs. $80, 700 lbs. $80; heifers, medium and large No. 1 550-575 lbs. for October delivery $74-78.

Southwest: 5700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 750-800 lbs. for September delivery $76-77; medium and large 275 lb. Holsteins for October-September delivery $100-110, October-November $104-110, January $100, 300 lbs. for October $95-97.50.

Northwest: 8000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-650 lbs. $74-76, 750-800 lbs. $75-77, 800-900 lbs. $72.50-75; 500-550 lbs. for October delivery $85, 600-650 lbs. for September-December $78-83.50, 850-900 lbs. $73.50-74; Holsteins, large 2-3 800 lbs. $59; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 600 lbs. $69-72, 750-800 lbs. $71-73, 800-825 lbs. $70, 900 lbs. $72; 450-500 lbs. for October delivery $80, 550 lbs. for November $77.

Eastern Cornbelt: 500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 three loads fleshy 1030 lbs. $64.50; Holsteins, medium and large No. 3 850-950 lbs. $55.50-58; heifers, medium and large frame 1-2, few lots 525-650 lbs. $78-80.50, 650-750 lbs. $72-75.50.

Kentucky: 7100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 load 440 lbs. $93, 550-600 lbs. $79-84, 600-700 lbs. $77- 83, 700-800 lbs. $73-79, 800-900 lbs. $71-76, 900-930 lbs. $68- 73; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 550-600 lbs. $75-79, 600-700 lbs. $71-76, 700-800 lbs. $69-73.