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Lamb
Prices Hold Firm, Some Higher
Feeder lambs were in short supply this week, and most lightweight
lambs continued to have a packer destination, though they may be going
into a feedlot for a period of time. Some sales of feeder lambs in
Fredericksburg were $3-5 higher and in Hamilton $3-7 higher.
Plains
Fed Cattle Trade Quiet At Midweek On Much Lower Bids
After two weeks of swift price increases and liberal
movement, the packers evidently don’t want to play anymore.
Perfunctory bids through midweek were as much as $10 below asking
prices.
Texas
Slaughter Goats Continue To Find Mostly Strong Outlets
Slaughter goats going through Texas auctions continue to sell at
higher prices for the most part. Weight seems to be of little matter
with some of the heavier kids bringing the highest prices. In
Goldthwaite the highest price quoted was on muttons.
PLAINS
FEEDLOT SALES
RANGE
SALES
Sheep
Numbers Are Stabilizing; Growers Reportedly Optimistic
Domestic sheep numbers are beginning to stabilize. That was
a welcome message delivered to sheep producers and lamb feeders
attending the joint convention here last week of the American Sheep
Industry Association and the National Lamb Feeders Association.
Disputed
Audiotape May Weaken Cattlemen In Suit Against IBP
A Kansas cattle feeder fighting the world's largest beef
packer turned out to be his own worst enemy as the second week of a
class-action lawsuit here ground to a halt.
Pickens
Expresses Confidence In Ability To Sell Mesa Water
T. Boone Pickens is optimistic that he'll be able to sell
the water beneath his Texas Panhandle ranch. He says interest is
increasing.
Ames Laboratory
Rennovation Included In FY 2005 Budget
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has
announced that the Bush administration’s fiscal year 2005 budget
will include $178 million to complete renovation of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s new National Centers for Animal Health
here.
Ewe
Lamb Program Extended, $18.86 Million Available
Sheep producers are set to receive an additional $18.86 million in
federal funds through fiscal 2004, following Secretary of Agriculture
Ann Veneman’s decision to extend the ewe lamb retention program.
Colorado
May Be Next In Line For Wolf Introduction Scheme
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reintroduced
wolves in Wyoming and Arizona. Colorado may be next.
OIE
Points Out Overreaction Against U.S. Beef In BSE Case
In a statement released worldwide last week, the Office of
International Epizootics said it has become "increasingly
concerned about reports of international trade disruptions involving
the misinterpretation of OIE standards."
Testing
All Cattle For BSE Downplayed
Japan's suggestion of testing all American cattle for “mad
cow” disease would not significantly improve the safety of the beef
supply, the head of a U.S. delegation visiting for talks with Japanese
officials said late last week.
Spending
Bill Passes, Delaying Country Of Origin Label Program
Congress overcame mostly Democratic opposition last Thursday
and approved a belated $373 billion bill financing most federal
agencies and endorsing President Bush's policies on overtime pay, food
labeling, media ownership and guns.
Economist Says BSE
Safeguards Mix Safety, Economic Reality
After reaching record high prices last fall, cattle futures
plummeted about 20 percent in the five days of trading following the
December 23, 2003 report of the discovery of a single dairy cow
infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow”
disease, in Washington state.
Nation’s
Feeder Calf, Yearling Prices Higher Again Last Week
Feeder cattle sold steady to $3 higher across the country last week,
stocker calves $1-5 higher and in many instances as much as $8 higher.
Fed
Cattle Prices Much Higher Last Week, Drop Value Plunges
Live slaughter cattle sold $6 higher across the country last week,
having moved up $11-12 in two weeks.
Cattle
On Feed Up 6 Percent Nationwide In 1000-Head Lots
Cattle and calves on feed for
slaughter January 1 in feedlots with a capacity of 1000 or more head
totaled 11.2 million head, six percent above last year but three
percent below two years ago.
Angelo
Lambs Steady, Feeder Cattle Higher
Lambs going on feeder accounts were limited this week as most went for
slaughter; slaughter lambs were steady, slaughter ewes firm to $3
higher; nanny goats sold firm to $4 higher, kids weak to $3 lower,
instances $5 lower. Receipts totaled 9403 head, around 15 percent
slaughter ewes, 15 percent slaughter lambs, five percent feeder lambs
and 65 percent goats.
Pork
Production Sets December Record High
December commercial red meat production for the United States
was slightly more than a year ago at 3.88 billion pounds. Pork
production set a new record monthly high.
December
Meat Supply In Freezers Down 13%
Total red meat supplies in freezers on December 31 were down 13
percent from last year at 823.3 million pounds.
Boxed
Beef Values Chart Higher Course
The national comprehensive boxed beef cutout report on all
fed steers and heifers sold last week moved up $5.08 to $140.41, the
highest this year.
Fredericksburg
Lambs Higher, Goats Firm
Feeder lambs sold $3-5 higher, slaughter lambs steady to firm,
slaughter goats steady to firm. Receipts totaled 2588 head.
Billings
Feeder Lambs Move To Higher Level
Feeder lambs sold $3-5 higher, instances $10 higher, slaughter ewes $2
higher.
Hamilton
Lambs, Kids Higher, Others Steady
Lambs sold $3-7 higher on Monday, ewes steady, kids higher and nannies
steady. Receipts totaled 2604 head. All cattle classes sold steady
Tuesday on receipts of 505 head.
Abilene
Feeder Steers Firm, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers sold steady to firm, heifers steady,
slaughter cows $1-2 lower, bulls steady to $1 lower, stock cows and
pairs $10-20 higher. Receipts totaled 1057 head.
Llano
Feeder Steers Off, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers sold steady to $4 lower, heifers steady,
slaughter cows $2 lower. Receipts totaled 284 head.
San
Saba Replacement Females Top At $1310
Cows with calves brought $1075-1275 per head in special replacement
female trading, topping at $1310; bred cows $775-1075, top $1150; bred
heifers $800-1025, top $1100; and open heifers $600-710. Receipts
totaled 1737 head.
Feds
Probe Pre-BSE Live Cattle Futures
The Wall Street
Journal reported on Tuesday that the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission is investigating whether some commodity traders may have
had advance warning last month of the discovery of “mad cow”
disease in a Washington state dairy herd.
Domestic
Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Lower
Domestic wool trading remained slow through mid-month under moderate
demand for light supplies.
Milano
Feeder Steers, Heifers Trend Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-2 higher, instances $3
higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 713 head.
Most
Brownwood Cattle Prices Called Steady
Feeder calves and yearlings sold steady, slaughter cows $2 lower,
stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 376 head.
Comanche
Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $4 higher,
slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 837 head.
Most
Fredericksburg Cattle Trend Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-4 higher, slaughter cows
and bulls $1-2 higher. Receipts totaled 1506 head.
Lampasas
Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $3-5 higher, instances $7
higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher, bulls $5-6 higher. Receipts
totaled 977 head.
Decatur
Feeder Calf, Yearling Trend Higher
Feeder calves and yearlings sold steady to $2 higher,
slaughter cows and bulls $2-5 higher, stock cows and pairs steady.
Receipts totaled 1339 head.
Most
Colorado City Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-5 higher, slaughter cows
and bulls $1-2 higher, stock cows and pairs steady to $20 higher.
Receipts totaled 434 head.
Goldthwaite
Lambs, Goats Trend Higher
Slaughter lambs sold steady to firm, lightweights $8-10 higher,
slaughter goats $3-5 higher. Receipts totaled 3173 head.
Most
Mason, San Saba Feeder Cattle Strong
Feeder steer and heifer calves and yearlings sold steady
to strong last week, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and
pairs $10-15 higher. Receipts totaled 965 head for the two sales.
U.S.
Meat Production 2% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was
estimated at 876.3 million pounds, 1.1 percent more than a week
earlier and two percent less than a year ago. Cumulative meat
production for the year to date was down 10.8 percent at 2.8 billion
pounds.
Loose Ends
Letters To The Editor
Coming
Up...
January 29
— Special Bull Offering, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas.
January 31 — Big Horn
Sale, Hamilton Livestock Commission, Hamilton, Texas. February
7 — All-Breed Bull Sale, Rio Grande Classic Livestock Auction,
El Paso, Texas.
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