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Fat, Feeder Lambs Find Good
Going
Feeder lambs continued to find good outlets and somewhat
higher prices for the most part this week. Slaughter lambs were mostly
$3-10 higher on most Texas markets and Midwest markets were steady.
Slaughter ewes were weak in San Angelo and mostly steady in the
Midwest.
Futures Break Stops Plains
Fed Cattle Trade Wednesday
Last week’s break in the futures trade failed to prevent
$82 prices on Plains fed cattle, but continued weakness on the board
peeled that figure back this week and then stopped movement on
Wednesday.
Texas Slaughter Goat Prices
Varied Widely Across Markets
Slaughter goat price trends on Texas markets were highly
variable this week with Hamilton on Monday steady and Junction $3
lower, while Tuesday found San Angelo $5-10 lower and Fredericksburg
$3-5 higher.
PLAINS
FEEDLOT SALES
RANGE
SALES
Cattle-Fax Reports
Positive Outlook For Beef Producers
All indications are that the beef industry is finally
heading toward recovery, Cattle-Fax market analysts told National
Cattlemen's Beef association members here last week. It was one of the
brightest outlooks the market-tracking outfit has presented to beef
producers in a long time.
Activists Who Squeezed
Ranchers Now Propose Tax-Funded Buyout
Backers of a pilot grazing permit buyout program were in the
nation's capital this week, trying to raise support on Capitol Hill.
Analyst Sees Positive
Picture In USDA’s Latest Cattle Data
The cattle market outlook appears relatively bright as the
size of the U.S. herd declined an additional .6 percent as of Jan. 1.
Even after last summer’s market weakness, the market has shown some
recovery and it appears that the inventory continued to decline
despite moderately strong calf and feeder cattle prices.
Interior Head Norton
Evokes New Kind Of Environmentalism
A "new environmentalism" is needed to help empower
people "to take conservation into their own hands," U.S.
Interior Secretary Gale Norton told participants at a meeting of the
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association here. The NCBA Stakeholders
meeting was part of the 2003 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and
Trade Show Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.
Texas Near Bangs-Free
Status, But Not Quite There As Of Yet
Despite long years of fighting to eradicate brucellosis in
Texas, the battle continues.
Meat Goat Business
Thriving; Boer Goats A Major Reason
During the past five years, more patches of Texas pasture
seem to have sprouted redheaded, white-bodied goats. What gives? Where
did they come from and what are folks doing with them?
NCBA Testifies Before
ITC Regarding Australian Trade
America’s cattlemen are calling for an "open"
trading environment, defined as providing equal access to each
partner’s market, in trade negotiations with Australia, the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association told the U.S. International Trade
Commission recently.
House GOP Members
Questioning Origin Labeling, Drouth Plan
House Republicans are questioning a program that will
require showing the country of origin on food labels.
KLA Opposes GIPSA Proposal
To License, Control Feedlots
The Kansas Livestock Association is opposing what they say
is unnecessary cattle feeding regulation.
Veneman Announces $3.9
Billion In Eco-Aid To Farms, Ranches
The Bush administration is proposing $3.9 billion in
conservation programs to aid farmers and ranchers in environmental
stewardship, cattlemen were told at the recent National Cattlemen’s
Beef Association annual meeting here.
House And Senate Fight
Over Farm Aid Holding Up Budget
A House-Senate fight over whether to give farmers billions
of dollars in additional aid is the chief obstacle to completing a
compromise $396 billion package financing nearly every federal agency
for the rest of the year.
Texas Sheep, Goat
Inventories Down
The Texas inventory of all sheep and lambs on January 1 was
down seven percent at 1.05 million head. Total goat numbers were off
four percent at 1.2 million head.
Nation’s Feeder Cattle
Prices Off Late Last Week, Calves Up
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady across the
country through Wednesday last week, then turned mostly $1 lower by
the end of the week.
Direct Slaughter Cattle
Prices Up $2-2.50 Across The Country
Slaughter cattle moving direct across the country last week
sold $2-2.50 higher live and $3.75 higher dressed.
Angelo Lambs, Goats Off,
Feeder Cattle Up
Feeder lambs were not well tested this week, slaughter lambs
and slaughter ewes weak to $1 lower; nanny goats were weak to $2 lower
and kids $5-10 lower. Receipts totaled 6105 head, around 25 percent
slaughter ewes, 20 percent slaughter lambs, five percent feeder lambs
and 50 percent goats.
Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie
Wools Lower
Wool trading remained slow again last week, demand moderate
to good for light supplies prior to shearing this year’s clip.
Shearing has resumed in Idaho, the Dakotas, Montana, Washington and
some Midwestern states.
U.S. Meat Production 3.5%
Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week
was estimated at 884 million pounds, 1.1 percent less than a week
earlier and 3.5 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat
production for the year to date was down 1.1 percent at 5.01 billion
pounds.
Lampasas Feeder Steer, Heifer Trends
Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher, slaughter cows
steady, bulls $1-2 lower. Receipts totaled 798 head.
Decatur Feeder Steers
Higher, Heifers Lower
Feeder steers sold $3 higher, heifers steady to $2 lower,
slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts
totaled 1016 head.
Fredericksburg Lambs
Mixed, Goats Higher
Feeder lambs sold $3-5 higher, slaughter lambs $3-5 lower
except lightweights steady, slaughter goats $3-5 higher. Receipts
totaled 2300 head.
Abilene Feeder Cattle
Prices Trend Upward
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, the
greatest advance on weights under 500 pounds, slaughter cows and bulls
steady, stock cows steady. Receipts totaled 860 head.
Llano Feeder Steers, Most
Heifers Higher
Feeder steers sold $3-8 higher, heavyweights heifers steady,
others $2-5 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled
164 head.
Hamilton Sheep, Goats
Steady, Cattle Higher
Sheep and goats sold steady Monday, steer and heifers calves
steady Tuesday, feeders $1-5 higher, slaughter cows steady, bulls $1-2
higher, stock cows $25-50 higher, pairs $25-100 higher. Receipts
totaled 923 head.
Boxed Beef Values Move
Upward $1.48
The national boxed beef cutout report indicated a $1.48
price rise last week to $126.26, almost $10 above the year ago figure
of $116.72.
Most Milano Yearling
Cattle Prices Higher
Steer and heifer calves sold steady, yearling feeders $3-4
higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 724 head.
Fredericksburg Feeder
Cattle Prices Strong
Feeder steers and heifers sold strong, slaughter cows and
bulls $1-2 lower. Receipts totaled 1060 head.
Most Junction Sheep
Steady, Goats Lower
Sheep classes sold mostly steady, goats steady to $3 lower.
Receipts totaled 1607 head.
Goldthwaite Lambs Higher,
Goats Firm
Feeder lambs were scarce, slaughter lambs $8-10 higher,
slaughter goats steady to firm. Receipts totaled 1154 head.
Billings Feeder Lambs
Higher
Feeder lambs sold steady to $2 higher last week, the advance
on weights under 100 pounds, slaughter ewes $4 higher. Receipts
totaled 955 head.
Kansas Direct Feeder
Steers, Heifers Soft
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $1 lower last week,
instances $2 lower. The weather was cold but mostly dry. Sales were
confirmed on 12,834 head.
Lometa Boer Goat Sale
Totals 225
Receipts totaled 225 head at the special full blood
registered Boer goat sale.
Colorado City Calves
Steady, Yearlings Off
Feeder steers and heifers under 550 pounds sold steady, over
550 pounds $2-3 lower, slaughter cows and bulls $2-4 lower, stock cows
and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 540 head.
Cuero Feeder Steers,
Heifers Trade Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-3 higher, heifers $4-5 higher,
slaughter cows and bulls $1-3 lower. Receipts totaled 792 head.
Loose Ends
Coming
Up...
February 13
— Special Cow Sale,
Producers Livestock Auction, San Angelo, Texas. February
13 — Special Stocker and
Feeder Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas. February
13 — Special Cow Sale,
Producers Livestock Auction, San Angelo, Texas.
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