Texas Fed Cattle Prices Higher
Last Week On Tuesday Trading

AMARILLO —(USDA)— Slaughter steers and heifers sold $1 higher in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma direct trade last week.

Trade was slow to moderate most of the week with the exception of Tuesday, which was active. Clearance was good, with confirmed sales of 85,200 head including 15,400 formulated and 3600 contracted cattle.

The weighted average price of all beef type steers was $70.72. The average liveweight on most cattle slaughtered at area packing plants the previous week was 1164 pounds compared with 1158 a week earlier and 1161 pounds the same week a year ago. Heifer percentages were 42, 45 and 41, respectively.

Kansas direct trading was also $1 higher and totaled 72,600 head including 12,600 committed cattle.

Midwest terminals and direct points were mostly $1-2 higher. The western parts of the nation were steady to $2 higher.

Cattle prices finished the week higher as packers scrambled to keep slaughter chains moving at increased levels. Commercial feedlots pulled cattle forward, depleting showlists that already consisted mostly of short-fed cattle.

The estimated composite boxed beef cutout value for choice 2-3 550-700 pound carcasses was up $2.40 to $110, 700-850 pounds up $2.88 to $107.76.

Some Texas trading:

Slaughter steers: select and choice 2-3 1100-1300 lbs. $70-71, late $71, weighted average price $70.76; select and few choice 2-3 1100-1250 lbs. $69-70.50, weighted average $69.81.

Slaughter heifers: select and choice 2-3 1000-1200 lbs. $70-71, late $71, weighted average $70.71; select and few choice 2-3 1000-1200 lbs. $68-70, weighted average $69.11; utility and choice 2-4 1100-1200 lbs. including heiferettes $64-65.