Plains Fed Cattle Prices Gain
Another $2 In Midweek Trading

Plains feedlots offered short showlists again this week and in so doing garnered the highest price they’ve managed so far this year. Most cattle — including some extremely green ones — brought $70, a $2 jump from last week and the first time the front number has been a seven since late November of last year.

The Texas Cattle Feeders Association counted almost 69,000 head selling in their trade area through midafternoon Wednesday on a scant 69,048-head showlist, and they expected to pick up more before the day was out; about 11,000 of those were captives.

Kansas sold 20,100 through midweek at $70 as well. Nebraska’s count came to 35,100 head, live prices $69-70 and dressed deals $109 to mostly $110.

Midwest direct prices ranged from $68 to $70 live, but the bulk of sales came in at $69-70; dressed prices were $109-110. Midwest terminal sales made $65.50-68.25.

Trade was slow in the Southwest, a handful of Holstein steers in Arizona earning $64. Northwest direct prices were steady to $1 higher at mostly $109-110 dressed.

Feeder cattle and calf prices reversed course after their recent brief rally, slipping noticeably in most areas.

St. Joe called 2200 head $2-3 lower on calves but firm to $1 higher on feeder weights. With 3250 head on hand, Springfield, Mo. was steady on the latter classes and steady to $2 lower on lightweights.

Still hampered by bad weather from the weekend, La Junta, Colo. offered about 1800 head and termed yearlings $2 lower, steer calves $2-3 lower, and heifer calves $1-2 lower.

San Antonio’s receipts totaled about 2000 head for two days, the market steady to $3 lower on steers and steady to as much as $5 lower on heifers. Amarillo’s tally amounted to 2750 head; feeder weights were not established, but heifers under 600 pounds were steady to $2 lower, similar steers an exception to the general rule with a $1-3 higher trend.

San Angelo’s special feeder sale Monday, detailed elsewhere in this issue, attracted 5360 head and presented them with a weak to $3 lower market.

Oklahoma City sold 9300 head. Calves were weak to $3 lower, feeder steers $1-2 lower and feeder heifers steady. Best 300-350 pound steer calves brought $104-109; 350-400 pounds $96.50-106; 400-450 pounds $93.50-101; 450-500 pounds $88-95.50; 500-550 pounds $86-93.50; 550-600 pounds $81-87.50; 600-650 pounds $75.50-83; 650-700 pounds $74.25-78; and 700-750 pounds $75-76.25; 600-700 pound yearlings $76.50-80; 700-800 pounds $74-78; 800-850 pounds $73-75.50; and 1000-1050 pounds $65.50-67.25.