Nation's Feeder Cattle Price Trends Vary Widely Last Week

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Price
Trends Vary Widely Last Week

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —(USDA)— Stocker cattle prices were uneven across the country last week, but gains outweighed the losses in most cases.

Some areas were sharply higher, including the Southern Plains and Montana, but these were the same places that posted the sharpest losses the previous week. The southeastern calf markets were $1-3 lower for the most part, but varied widely as buyers were working with selective orders and were particular as to quality, breed, and flesh condition.

The most consistent markets were for northern cattle from Nebraska up through the Dakotas and out West, where the fall calf runs are in full swing. These fancy "high country" ranch calves sold firm to $3 higher under good demand from northern feeders who have cashed in on the recent fed cattle market.

True yearling feeders remain extremely limited, but the few that made their way through auction rings last week were fired upon by buyers and sold $3-6 higher.

The erratic feeder and stocker trends were provoked by a yo-yo futures market that had the industry scratching its collective head in bewilderment. Since Wednesday the 22nd, the spot October live cattle CME contracts finished their term with the following settlements: limit down, limit up, limit up, $2.55 higher, limit down, $1.47 higher, $.12 higher, and $.05 lower; finally leaving the board at $101.75. This string of volatility left hedged cattle feeders either too scared to sell their closeouts or unable to get out of their hedges.

Today, it’s hard to believe that there was a time when cattle feeders made decisions without having their eyes glued to a video screen or their ears glued to the pickup radio. Of course, there was also a time when feeder cattle buyers would bid before the scoreboard flashed the exact weight.

In most cases, cattle have their entire futures planned before the cow-calf man gets a check in his hand. Volatility has taken most of the gamblers from the penthouse to the poorhouse too many times to count, but this fall’s trip to the top-floor suite had fewer guests as most lenders require risk management that flattens out the highs and lows. Hopefully, the board and the cash markets have found some footing as most cattle industry members agree that stabilization anywhere near the current levels would be a victory.

Offerings weighing more than 600 pounds made up only 25 percent of the week’s reported auction volume, and 44 percent were heifers.

Auction receipts totaled 405,200 head, the previous week 436,500, and a year ago 338,100.

Texas 29,500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $127.12, 350-400 lbs. $119.79, 400-450 lbs. $112.47, 450-500 lbs. $111.08, 500-550 lbs. $101.64, 550-600 lbs. $99.11, 600-650 lbs. $97.88, 650-700 lbs. $93.45, 700-750 lbs. $96.94, 750-800 lbs. $91.95, 800-850 lbs. $98.44, 850-900 lbs. $91.68; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $113.76, 350-400 lbs. $111.73, 400-450 lbs. $102.98, 450-500 lbs. $98.96, 500-550 lbs. $94.30, 550-600 lbs. $93.20, 600-650 lbs. $91.73, 650-700 lbs. $94.70, 700-750 lbs. $95.38, 800-850 lbs. $94.55.

Oklahoma 37,200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $134.46, 350-400 lbs. $128.16, 400-450 lbs. $121.63, 450-500 lbs. $114.17, 500-550 lbs. $109.27, 550-600 lbs. $102.89, 600-650 lbs. $103.78, 650-700 lbs. $106.31, 700-750 lbs. $104.53, 750-800 lbs. $104.81, 800-850 lbs. $102.45; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $114.20, 350-400 lbs. $109.10, 400-450 lbs. $105.67, 450-500 lbs. $103.09, 500-550 lbs. $97.63, 550-600 lbs. $96.41, 600-650 lbs. $99.63, 650-700 lbs. $99.94, 700-750 lbs. $99.08, 750-800 lbs. $95.65, 800-850 lbs. $94.49, 850-900 lbs. $91.53.

New Mexico 6500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $135.64, 350-400 lbs. $131.47, 400-450 lbs. $120.90, 450-500 lbs. $119.31, 500-550 lbs. $104.82, 550-600 lbs. $99.34, 600-650 lbs. $95.51, 700-750 lbs. $93.52, 750-800 lbs. $93.69; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $116.01, 350-400 lbs. $111.36, 400-450 lbs. $104.44, 450-500 lbs. $99.32, 500-550 lbs. $97.14, 550-600 lbs. $95.24, 600-650 lbs. $90.71, 700-750 lbs. $90.23.

Kansas 16,200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $143.96, 350-400 lbs. $142.39, 400-450 lbs. $124.77, 450-500 lbs. $116.41, 500-550 lbs. $110.08, 550-600 lbs. $105.50, 600-650 lbs. $103.74, 650-700 lbs. $101.98, 700-750 lbs. $105.12, 750-800 lbs. $106.13, 800-850 lbs. $109.18, 850-900 lbs. $105.29; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $123.56, 350-400 lbs. $116.36, 400-450 lbs. $108.98, 450-500 lbs. $105.93, 500-550 lbs. $100.21, 550-600 lbs. $98.46, 600-650 lbs. $94.53, 650-700 lbs. $94.67, 700-750 lbs. $99.28, 750-800 lbs. $94.07, 800-850 lbs. $95.89, 850-900 lbs. $92.64.

Missouri 35,200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $122.47, 350-400 lbs. $118.07, 400-450 lbs. $111.69, 450-500 lbs. $110.81, 500-550 lbs. $104.44, 550-600 lbs. $104.44, 550-600 lbs. $104.02, 600-650 lbs. $101.73, 650-700 lbs. $101.81, 700-750 lbs. $98.39, 750-800 lbs. $99.35, 800-850 lbs. $99.95; Holsteins, large No. 3 400-450 lbs. $85.63, 450-500 lbs. $84.01, 84.01, 500-550 lbs. $79.82, 550-600 lbs. $81.06, 600-650 lbs. $78.07, 700-750 lbs. $76.69, 750-800 lbs. $77.79, 800-850 lbs. $79.12; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $108.07, 350-400 lbs. $107.73, 400-450 lbs. $102.41, 450-500 lbs. $98.51, 500-550 lbs. $95.22, 550-600 lbs. $94.02, 600-650 lbs. $93.35, 650-700 lbs. $94.93, 700-750 lbs. $94.65, 750-800 lbs. $92.21, 800-850 lbs. $90.22.

Iowa 8000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $124.54, 350-400 lbs. $122.35, 400-450 lbs. $116.02, 450-500 lbs. $112.54, 500-550 lbs. $112.76, 550-600 lbs. $106.93, 600-650 lbs. $107.70, 650-700 lbs. $106.29, 700-750 lbs. $107.12, 750-800 lbs. $105.22, 800-850 lbs. $104.69; heifers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $112.19, 400-450 lbs. $107.68, 450-500 lbs. $108.24, 500-550 lbs. $101.83, 550-600 lbs. $99.86, 600-650 lbs. $97.47, 650-700 lbs. $99.54, 700-750 lbs. $101.23, 750-800 lbs. $101.90, 800-850 lbs. $100.03, 850-900 lbs. $97.56.

Nebraska 28,500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $133.96, 350-400 lbs. $132.60, 400-450 lbs. $121.94, 450-500 lbs. $116.71, 500-550 lbs. $114.91, 550-600 lbs. $109.84, 600-650 lbs. $108.94, 650-700 lbs. $106.45, 700-750 lbs. $104.77, 800-850 lbs. $110.60, 895 lbs. $106; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $121.43, 350-400 lbs. $119.58, 400-450 lbs. $112.92, 450-500 lbs. $109.03, 500-550 lbs. $106.12, 550-600 lbs. $103.39, 600-650 lbs. $103.55, 650-700 lbs. $98.32, 700-750 lbs. $104.19, 750-800 lbs. $100.32.

Colorado 18,800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $128.38, 400-450 lbs. $119.30, 450-500 lbs. $113.18, 500-550 lbs. $106.24, 550-600 lbs. $100.28, 600-650 lbs. $97.88, 650-700 lbs. $96.93, 700-750 lbs. $99.67, 750-800 lbs. $103.47, 800-850 lbs. $93.56; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $116.86, 350-400 lbs. $114.20, 400-450 lbs. $105.27, 450-500 lbs. $101.62, 500-550 lbs. $96.78, 550-600 lbs. $95.85, 600-650 lbs. $93.63, 650-700 lbs. $91.67, 700-750 lbs. $97.98, 750-800 lbs. $95.94, 800-850 lbs. $90.72.

Wyoming 17,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $146.85, 350-400 lbs. $134.63, 400-450 lbs. $122.81, 450-500 lbs. $116.80, 500-550 lbs. $108.02, 550-600 lbs. $106.75, 600-650 lbs. $104.48, 650-700 lbs. $105.47, 700-750 lbs. $105.19, 800-850 lbs. $102.57, 850-900 lbs. $102.67; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $131.75, 350-400 lbs. $114.88, 400-450 lbs. $110.85, 450-500 lbs. $108.05, 500-550 lbs. $103.97, 550-600 lbs. $102.34, 600-650 lbs. $97.87, 650-700 lbs. $96.60, 700-750 lbs. $99.54, 800-850 lbs. $98.66, 850-900 lbs. $98.20.

Dakotas 64,600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $126.07, 350-400 lbs. $129.22, 400-450 lbs. $123.05, 450-500 lbs. $119.39, 500-550 lbs. $111.44, 550-600 lbs. $109.11, 600-650 lbs. $108.41, 650-700 lbs. $106.66, 700-750 lbs. $102.57, 750-800 lbs. $105.86, 800-850 lbs. $102.88, 850-900 lbs. $103.72; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $117.95, 350-400 lbs. $113.64, 400-450 lbs. $109.31, 450-500 lbs. $106.57, 500-550 lbs. $103.55, 550-600 lbs. $101.26, 600-650 lbs. $99.19, 650-700 lbs. $98.67, 700-750 lbs. $98.77, 750-800 lbs. $100.32, 850-900 lbs. $97.44.

Montana 11,000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $141.04, 350-400 lbs. $132.01, 400-450 lbs. $129.40, 450-500 lbs. $116.20, 500-550 lbs. $108.19, 550-600 lbs. $104.45, 600-650 lbs. $103.54, 650-700 lbs. $101.46, 700-750 lbs. $99.47; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $114.88, 350-400 lbs. $111.10, 400-450 lbs. $108.15, 450-500 lbs. $105.13, 500-550 lbs. $102.80, 550-600 lbs. $97.42, 600-650 lbs. $94.71, 650-700 lbs. $95.45, 850-900 lbs. $94.41.

Washington 4400 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 450-500 lbs. $109.22, 500-550 lbs. $103.98, 550-600 lbs. $101.94, 600-650 lbs. $102.34, 650-700 lbs. $100.62, 700-750 lbs. $99.39, 750-800 lbs. $99.35; Holsteins, large No. 2-3 480 lbs. $78, 615 lbs. $79.75; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 350-400 lbs. $107, 450-500 lbs. $103.11, 500-550 lbs. $95.32, 550-600 lbs. $94.69, 600-650 lbs. $94.14, 650-700 lbs. $92.62, 700-750 lbs. $91.61.

Virginia 3900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 450-500 lbs. $110.28, 500-550 lbs. $99.24, 550-600 lbs. $96.93, 600-650 lbs. $93.61, 650-700 lbs. $91.52, 700-750 lbs. $95.13, 750-800 lbs. $92.33, 800-850 lbs. $84.90; heifers, medium and large No. 1 350-400 lbs. $94.57, 450-500 lbs. $95.28, 500-550 lbs. $89.80, 550-600 lbs. $89.89, 600-650 lbs. $85.66, 650-700 lbs. $98.20, 700-750 lbs. $84.19.

Carolinas 8500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $104-129, 250-300 lbs. $107-132, 300-350 lbs. $105-117, 350-400 lbs. $98-110, 400-450 lbs. $94-107, 450-500 lbs. $92-103, 500-550 lbs. $89-99, 550-600 lbs. $82-92, 600-700 lbs. $80-91, 700-800 lbs. $75-85, 800-900 lbs. $67-80; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $91-120, 250-300 lbs. $88-115, 300-350 lbs. $86-101, 350-400 lbs. $85-101, 400-450 lbs. $82-97, 450-500 lbs. $80-92.50, 500-550 lbs. $79-89, 550-600 lbs. $77-88, 600-700 lbs. $77-86.50, 700-800 lbs. $72-82, 800-900 lbs. $56-77.

Kentucky 28,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $101-113, 350-400 lbs. $96-104, 400-450 lbs. $94-104, 450-500 lbs. $93-103, 500-550 lbs. $90-100, 550-600 lbs. $88-97, 600-700 lbs. $89-99, 700-800 lbs. $86-96, 800-900 lbs. $87-97, 900-1050 lbs. $85-95.10; Holsteins, large No. 3 300-400 lbs. $74-86, 400-500 lbs. $73-89, 500-600 lbs. $70-80, 600-700 lbs. $69-78.50, 700-800 lbs. $65-78; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $92-102, 350-400 lbs. $87-97, 400-450 lbs. $87-97, 450-500 lbs. $84-94, 500-600 lbs. $82-92, 600-650 lbs. $83-93, 650-700 lbs. $78-87, 700-800 lbs. $78-88.

Tennessee 15,500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $116.32, 350-400 lbs. $109.38, 400-450 lbs. $103.75, 450-500 lbs. $98.43, 500-550 lbs. $94.44, 550-600 lbs. $91.93, 600-650 lbs. $89.96, 650-700 lbs. $88.69, 700-750 lbs. $87.91; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 300-350 lbs. $103.61, 350-400 lbs. $99.98, 400-450 lbs. $95.58, 450-500 lbs. $90.01, 500-550 lbs. $86.03, 550-600 lbs. $84.44, 600-650 lbs. $83.44, 650-700 lbs. $83.04, 700-750 lbs. $81.82, 750-800 lbs. $80.53.

Arkansas 13,200 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $122, 350-400 lbs. $119.04, 400-450 lbs. $112.23, 450-500 lbs. $106.19, 500-550 lbs. $99.49, 550-600 lbs. $96.69, 600-650 lbs. $94.55, 650-700 lbs. $94.98, 700-750 lbs. $94.16, 750-800 lbs. $88.95; Holsteins, large No. 3 400-450 lbs. $86.67, 450-500 lbs. $76.77, 700-750 lbs. $72.84, 900-950 lbs. $60; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $104.47, 350-400 lbs. $100.58, 400-450 lbs. $97.86, 450-500 lbs. $93.74, 500-550 lbs. $90.19, 550-600 lbs. $88.38, 600-650 lbs. $88.60, 650-700 lbs. $89.11, 700-750 lbs. $89.58, 750-800 lbs. $84.90, 800-850 lbs. $84.20.

Louisiana 9000 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $130-140, 250-300 lbs. $120-130, 300-350 lbs. $117-126, 350-400 lbs. $110-120, 400-450 lbs. $105-115, 450-500 lbs. $98-108, 500-550 lbs. $91-101, 550-600 lbs. $88-96; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $109-120, 250-300 lbs. $104-115, 300-350 lbs. $100-112, 350-400 lbs. $98-106, 400-450 lbs. $94-104, 450-500 lbs. $90-101, 500-550 lbs. $88-94, 550-600 lbs. $83-92.

Mississippi 9500 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $130-138, 250-300 lbs. $122-131, 300-400 lbs. $115-122, 400-500 lbs. $105-114, 500-550 lbs. $96-106, 550-600 lbs. $87-97, 600-700 lbs. $85-95, 700-800 lbs. $79.50-87; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-300 lbs. $107.50-117.50, 300-350 lbs. $100-109, 350-400 lbs. $95-101, 400-450 lbs. $93-104, 450-500 lbs. $86-94, 500-600 lbs. $83-93, 600-700 lbs. $79-87, 700-800 lbs. $77-80, 800-900 lbs. $66-70.

Alabama 17,900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $120-134, 350-400 lbs. $115-122, 400-450 lbs. $109-119, 450-500 lbs. $101-112, 500-550 lbs. $97-100, 550-600 lbs. $92-97, 600-700 lbs. $87-92, 700-800 lbs. $84.50-90; heifers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $107-115, 350-400 lbs. $100-109, 400-450 lbs. $95-104, 450-500 lbs. $91-97, 500-550 lbs. $89-93, 550-600 lbs. $86-91, 600-650 lbs. $84-89, 650-700 lbs. $82-86, 700-800 lbs. $79-84.

Georgia 10,600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $120-135, 250-300 lbs. $115-130, 300-350 lbs. $115-125, 350-400 lbs. $108-118, 400-450 lbs. $103-113, 450-500 lbs. $95-105, 500-550 lbs. $89-99, 550-600 lbs. $85-95, 600-650 lbs. $83-93, 650-700 lbs. $80-90, 700-750 lbs. $78-88, 750-800 lbs. $76-82; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $105-115, 250-300 lbs. $103-113, 300-350 lbs. $100-110, 350-400 lbs. $95-105, 400-450 lbs. $89-99, 450-500 lbs. $85-95, 500-550 lbs. $82-92, 550-600 lbs. $80-88, 600-650 lbs. $80-87, 650-700 lbs. $78-85.

Florida 11,600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $130-150, 250-300 lbs. $120-140, 300-350 lbs. $120-135, 350-400 lbs. $115-132, 400-450 lbs. $108-124, 450-500 lbs. $100-112, 500-550 lbs. $95-105, 550-600 lbs. $90-100, 600-650 lbs. $82-90, 650-700 lbs. $80-88, 700-750 lbs. $78-85; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 200-250 lbs. $110-130, 250-300 lbs. $105-119, 300-350 lbs. $100-112, 350-400 lbs. $95-105, 400-450 lbs. $90-100, 450-500 lbs. $85-95, 500-550 lbs. $82-92, 550-600 lbs. $80-88, 600-650 lbs. $80-86.

Direct receipts totaled 51,400 head, the previous week 46,400, and last year 62,300.

Texas 14,300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 675-700 lbs. $102, 700-800 lbs. $100-102; delivered 550-600 lbs. $107, 600-650 lbs. $106; 750-800 lbs. for December-January delivery $91-93, 750-800 lbs. for February-April $89.50-90; 750-800 lbs. delivered $1.25 over January CME board; heifers, medium and large No. 1 525 lbs. $100, 600-700 lbs. $94.50-98; delivered 650-700 lbs. $98.50, 715 lbs. $97.50; 700-725 lbs. for December-January delivery $90.50.

Oklahoma 5600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 450-475 lbs. $115-118, 490-500 lbs. $110; 800 lbs. for November delivery $91, 750 lbs. for January $91-91.50, 750 lbs. for March $88-91, 800 lbs. for June $86; 800 lbs. $2.50 back of the May CME board; heifers, medium and large No. 1 425 lbs. $113, 460 lbs. $102, 635 lbs. $99; 700 lbs. for January delivery $87.50, 700-775 lbs. for March $84.70-85.50.

New Mexico 700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 for late November delivery 675 lbs. $102; heifers, medium and large No. 1 450 lbs. $104.

Colorado 2900 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 550-600 lbs. $104-105, 600 lbs. $100-101; 740 lbs. delivered $102.50; 750 lbs. delivered $1.50 over January CME board; heifers, medium and large No. 1 500-525 lbs. $99-100, 700 lbs. $96.

Wyoming 2600 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 550 lbs. $106, 600-650 lbs. $103-108, 800 lbs. $108; heifers, medium and large No. 1 525-575 lbs. $100-104, 625 lbs. $98.

Montana 300 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1 625 lbs. $106; heifers, medium and large No. 1 475 lbs. $106.

Southwest 5800 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 300 lbs. delivered $133; Holsteins, large No. 2-3 275 lbs. through November $111.50-120, December-January $118-140, February $129, 300 lbs. $101-114; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 875 lbs. $91.

Northwest 2700 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 550-600 lbs. $105, 700-725 lbs. $95-96; 800-900 lbs. for December delivery $95-96; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 500-600 lbs. $99-100, 600-650 lbs. $93-96.

Eastern Cornbelt 2100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 500-600 lbs. $106.50-108, 600-725 lbs. $103-107.50, 725-800 lbs. $99-103; Holsteins, large No. 3 600-700 lbs. $82-85, 700-900 lbs. $73-79; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 500-600 lbs. $101.50-103, 650-700 lbs. $95.50-99.50, 700-825 lbs. $93.50-96.

Kentucky 5100 head. Steers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-700 lbs. $98-105, 700-800 lbs. $96-104, 800-900 lbs. $95-102; Holsteins, large No. 3 700-800 lbs. $80-82, 800-900 lbs. $79-83; heifers, medium and large No. 1-2 600-700 lbs. $93-100, 700-800 lbs. $90-96, 800-950 lbs. $85-91.

Questions