Plains Fed Cattle Buyers, Sellers $3-4 Apart On Price
Plains feedlots and packers were $3-4 apart on price at midweek, the former asking mostly $75 and the latter bidding $71-72.

Texas Slaughter Goats Scarce, But Find Sharply Higher Prices
With limited market activity during the holiday period, slaughter goats in Texas found good demand for holiday meals and prices were much higher. Most kids sold $5-10 higher, some as much as $25 higher.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

National Farms’ CEO Changes From Management To Ownership
For the last 28 years, the name Bill Haw has been synonymous with National Farms. He was at the helm as the company’s CEO all those years.

USMEF Promotes Value, Uses For End Meat Cuts In Korea
Brisket, short ribs, outside skirt, hanging tender, top blade, chuck roll, and boneless chuck short ribs are all U.S. beef cuts that have a higher value in the export market. The task for the U.S. Meat Export Federation is to convince international buyers that these cuts can be profitable.

USDA Delays TB-Related Limits On Texas Feeder Cattle Trade
Texas cattlemen had one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Not only did the fat cattle market rise, but the day before Thanksgiving, the Texas Animal Health Commission announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service had delayed implementing any restrictions on feeder cattle movement out of Texas in connection with tuberculosis problems.

McDonald’s Provides Grant To Study BSE
Contracts are being finalized that will help bring the subject of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "mad cow disease" under clearer focus. The research is being funded through $1.1 million in beef checkoff funds and a $500,000 grant from McDonald’s Corporation.

NMSU Developing Cattle Strain Adapted To Desert Conditions
New Mexico State University scientists are breeding a new bloodline of desert-adapted cows specifically selected for harsh range conditions.

Wisconsin Trying To Get Handle On CWD Deer Infection Levels
State wildlife officials over the weekend sought a grim bounty — the heads of 50,000 deer — to determine how far chronic wasting disease has spread among the herd.

Texans And Export Federation Promote U.S. Beef In Russia
Russian beef buyers received a crash course on profiting from U.S. beef thanks to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the beef checkoff program, and a couple of Texans.

Grain, Other Prices Improving, But Government Support Waning
After five years of weak grain prices, improving markets appear to indicate a brighter outlook for farmers into 2003. Livestock prices are also expected to rise in 2003 as total meat and poultry production declines for the first time in 21 years.

Farmland Reports $182M Loss; Reorganization Still Underway
Farmland Industries has reported a $182.6 million loss for its fiscal year 2002, which ended Aug. 31. The loss, reflecting the difficulties that led the company to file for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on May 31, was calculated before taxes, one-time restructuring and reorganization expenses and losses from discontinued operations. Including those charges and taxes, the loss for the fiscal year was $346.7 million.

Dakotas Ranchers All But Give Up On Building Packing Plant
Ranchers in the Dakotas are still chasing the dream of a cattle processing venture, but the chase is taking a different route.

Officially "Endangered" Owl Could Endanger Grazing Again
A federal judge has issued an injunction that could temporarily ban grazing on huge swaths of national forest land identified as nesting and foraging sites for the officially "endangered" Mexican spotted owl.

West Texas Rancher Powell To Be Honored By Boy Scouts
The Concho Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America will honor Fort McKavett rancher James L. Powell at its Distinguished Citizen's Award dinner Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Comments On Wyoming Wolf Plan Sought
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has conducted nine open house meetings to discuss its draft wolf management plan and will accept written comments through Dec. 12.

Stock-Killing Wolf Pack Being Trimmed
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service went hunting this fall for two gray wolves.

Suspect Case Of FMD Found In Scotland
A suspected case of foot and mouth disease has been found on a Scottish farm and authorities have restricted movement of cattle within a five-mile radius while tests are completed, a Scottish Executive said.

Direct Fed Cattle Prices Find Higher Market And Good Demand
Direct slaughter cattle trade turned active across the country last Wednesday as packers needed numbers for the week following Thanksgiving.

U.S. Meat Production 9.2% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection during last week’s holiday period was estimated at 845.8 million pounds, 8.8 percent less than a week ago and 9.2 percent less than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up 3.1 percent at 42.72 billion pounds.

Angelo Lambs Steady, Slaughter Kids Higher
Feeder lambs were too limited for a test this week, slaughter lambs steady, slaughter ewes $3-5 higher; nanny goats sold firm, kids fully $10 higher. Receipts totaled 9020 head, around 65 percent slaughter ewes, 10 percent slaughter lambs, five percent feeder lambs and 20 percent goats.

Milano Steers Trend Up, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers sold steady to $2 higher, the advance on weights over 600 pounds, heifers steady, slaughter cows steady to $1 higher, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 845 head.

Hamilton Cattle Steady, Sheep, Goats Higher
All classes of cattle sold steady Tuesday on receipts of 303 head. Lambs sold $5-10 higher Monday, ewes $5-15 higher; kids $5-25 higher, nannies steady. Receipts totaled 2686 head.

Brownwood Cattle Remain Unchanged
All classes of cattle sold steady on receipts of 792 head.

Fredericksburg Fed Lambs, Goats Higher
Feeder lambs sold steady, slaughter lambs $4-5 higher; slaughter goats were $10-15 higher. Receipts totaled 3187 head.

Most Decatur Cattle Prices Termed Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $1 higher, stock cows and pairs higher. Receipts totaled 1714 head.

Junction Sheep, Goat Prices Termed Higher
Meat type kid goats sold $5-8 higher, nannies $5 higher, other sheep and goats a little higher. Receipts totaled 961 head.

Llano Feeder Steers, Heifers Trade Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, the advance on weights over 600 pounds, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 634 head.

Most Abilene Cattle Prices Called Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $3 higher, the greatest advance on weights over 500 pounds, slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 higher, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 1298 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Higher
Domestic wool trading was at a virtual standstill during last week’s holiday-shortened period. Buyer demand was good for very light supplies.

Boxed Beef Values Edge Up To $117.30
The national comprehensive boxed beef cutout report on all fed steers and heifers sold last week showed a 42-cent rise to $117.30.

Billings Feeder Lambs Higher, Numbers Short
Feeder lambs sold steady to $3 higher, slaughter ewes steady. Receipts totaled 980 head.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
December 5 — The Sitz Bull Sale, Harrison, Montana. December 6-7 — Winter Horse Sale, Roswell Livestock Auction, Roswell, New Mexico. December 7 — Steiner Ranches Brangus Bull Sale, at the ranch, Bastrop, Texas. December 7 — Special Replacement Female Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas.