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Lambs Lower, Meat Higher, Cutouts Off
The lamb market was moving in a somewhat peculiar direction
this week. There are not enough feeders for a trend, but slaughter
lambs were lower, some lightweights fully $10 off; the dressed trade
moved $1-5 higher, some lightweights much higher, and the cutout value
was off almost $3.
Plains Fed Cattle Prices
Off $5 In Tentative Midweek Trade
Plains cattle feeders faced another steep price decline this
week. A few held their noses and waded in by midafternoon Wednesday,
but many were still looking for news they liked better.
Texas Slaughter Goat Prices
Take A Sharp Turn Downward
Slaughter goats on Texas markets turned sharply lower this
week with kids mainly $10-15 off.
PLAINS
FEEDLOT SALES
RANGE
SALES
Cattle Market
Remains In Flux; Cattle-Fax IDs Exports As Key
There is much uncertainty in the cattle market today, and
that uncertainty is expected to remain for some time.
Veneman Says Budget
Includes Increased Funding For BSE
President Bush’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2005
includes a request for $60 million, an increase of $47 million, for
BSE related activities.
Beef Demand Up Again
In 2003; Consumers Remain Confident
A substantial improvement in beef demand and an increase in
exports made 2003 a profitable year for all segments of the beef
industry. Fed cattle prices hit record highs. Wholesale beef prices
and retail prices followed suit.
Cattlemen Rest Case In
Captive Supply Suit Against IBP/Tyson
A federal judge this week ordered the world's largest beef
packer to present its defense in a class-action lawsuit, even though
he called the plaintiffs’ case weak.
Cattle Count Off One
Percent For The Year At 96.1 Million
All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1
totaled an estimated 94.9 million head, down one percent from the 96.1
million for the same date last year and two percent below the 2002
total of 96.7 million.
January 1 U.S. Sheep
Inventory Lower For 11th Consecutive Year
The U.S. sheep and lamb inventory, at 6.09 million head on
January 1, was down three percent from last year, nine percent from
two years ago, and 44 percent below 11 years ago when the current
decline started. The inventory has been in an erratic decline for 62
years, and now totals only 11 percent of the 1942 peak of 56.2 million
head.
Slaughter Cattle Prices
Plunge Along With Falling Beef Values
Live slaughter cattle prices were $5-7 lower across the
country last week, taking away what was put on the previous week.
Dressed sales were $7-8 lower.
Nation’s Feeder Cattle
Weaker, Weather Conditions Big Factor
Feeder steers and heifers sold $3-5 lower in auctions across
the country last week, weak to $2 lower in limited direct trading.
Prices ranged from steady to $5 lower for stocker calves that sold so
well the previous week.
Superior Livestock Video
Sale Offering Totals 50,500 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered 50,500 feeder cattle and
bred stock in their Cattlemen’s Winter Classic video sale.
Angelo Lambs Mixed,
Feeder Cattle Weak
Slaughter lambs sold steady to $4 lower this week,
lightweights $5-10 lower, slaughter ewes $2-5 lower; feeder lambs were
not well tested, nanny goats weak to $5 lower, kids $10-15 lower.
Receipts totaled 6671 head, around 25 percent slaughter ewes, 20
percent slaughter lambs and 65 percent goats.
Colorado City Feeder
Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and
bulls $2 lower. Receipts totaled 543 head.
Lampasas Feeder Steer,
Heifer Trends Lower
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 lower, slaughter
cows and bulls $2-4 lower. Receipts totaled 975 head.
Comanche Feeder Steer,
Heifer Prices Decline
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $4 lower, slaughter
cows steady to $3 higher, bulls steady to $5 higher. Receipts totaled
504 head.
Milano Steer Calves
Steady, Yearlings Off
Feeder steer calves sold steady, yearlings $1-2 lower,
heifers $1-3 lower, slaughter cows $1-2 lower, bulls $2-3 lower.
Receipts totaled 695 head.
Coleman Feeder Steer,
Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-2 higher, heifers steady to $2 higher,
slaughter cows $2-3 higher, bulls steady, stock cows and pairs $10-20
higher.
Boxed Beef Values Lose
Ground Again
The national comprehensive boxed beef cutout report on all
fed steers and heifers last week lost all of the previous week’s
advance by declining $5.65 to $134.76. Ribs and loins held up the best
with losses of $2.42 and $3.78, respectively, while chucks were the
big losers, off $10.38.
Hamilton Sheep, Goats,
Cattle Called Steady
All classes of sheep and goats sold steady Monday on
receipts of 1164 head. All cattle prices were steady Tuesday on 437
head.
Abilene Feeder Steer,
Heifer Prices Mixed
Feeder steers and heifers under 600 pounds sold $2-3 lower,
heavier weights steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 lower, stock
cows and pairs $20-30 lower. Receipts totaled 1200 head.
Fredericksburg Steer,
Heifer Prices Strong
Feeder steers and heifers sold strong, slaughter cows and
bulls $1-2 lower. Receipts totaled 1666 head.
Most Junction Sheep,
Goats Traded Lower
Most sheep and goats sold lower, kids $5-12 off and nannies
$5-10 lower. Receipts totaled 2407 head.
Brownwood Feeder Calf,
Yearling Trend Steady
Feeder calves and yearlings sold steady, slaughter cows and
bulls steady to $3 higher, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts
totaled 345 head.
Llano Cattle Prices Termed
Steady Tuesday
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and
bulls steady. Receipts totaled 372 head.
Texas 2004 Angora
Inventory Down 8%
The all goat inventory in Texas on January 1 was unchanged
from last year at 1.2 million head, but four percent below two years
ago. Angora numbers were down eight percent at 220,000 head, meat type
goats up two percent at 980,000 head.
Decatur Feeder Steer,
Heifer Prices Mixed
Feeder steer and heifer calves sold $2-3 higher, yearlings
steady to $2 lower, slaughter cows and bulls $1 lower. Receipts
totaled 996 head.
U.S. Meat Production 4.9%
Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week
was estimated at 843.2 million pounds, 3.8 percent less than a week
earlier and 4.9 percent below a year ago. Cumulative meat production
for the year to date was down 9.2 percent at 3.57 billion pounds.
Goldthwaite Lambs Mixed,
Goats Steady
Slaughter lambs sold steady except lightweights $3-5 higher,
slaughter goats steady. Receipts totaled 2363 head.
Mason, San Saba Feeder
Steers, Heifers Strong
Feeder calves and yearlings sold steady to strong last week
in Mason and San Saba, weights 400-500 pounds $1-3 higher, slaughter
cows and bulls $1-2 higher, stock cows and pairs in good demand.
Receipts totaled 3248 head, including a special bull sale. Pat
Griswold Ranch sold 30 Angus bulls for an average of $2114 per head,
and 12 Charolais bulls averaged $1973. Hagler Farms had 13 Brangus
bulls that averaged $1973.
Loose Ends
Letters To The Editor
Coming
Up...
February 7 — All-Breed Bull Sale, Rio Grande Classic Livestock
Auction, El Paso, Texas. February
7 — Bradley 3 Ranch Ltd. Bull Sale, at the ranch, Memphis,
Texas. February 12
— Special Stocker and Feeder Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba,
Texas. February 12
— Special Cow Sale, Producers Livestock Auction, San Angelo, Texas.
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