Plains Fed Cattle Trading
At A Standstill By Midweek

The packers and the cowboys were both on offense this week, and as of late Wednesday, no one knew for sure who had the ball.

At least that’s how it looked in the Plains feedlot trade, where both sides were staring each other down over a wide scrimmage line that stretched all the way from $68 offers to $70-72 asking prices. On a scant 68,000 head showlist of green cattle, the Panhandle had moved only about 15,000 formulas by midweek, no live deals.

The odds were said to favor sellers when trade finally materialized, because packers needed cattle and feeders were under no pressure to sell any except to open up pen space.

Kansas trade was at a standstill, as in Texas, the only movement through midweek coming on 22,500 captives. Nebraska reported 16,000 head trading Wednesday and a 23,000 head week-to-date figure, the later sales all on a dressed basis at mostly $108-109.

A light test of Midwest direct areas saw $68-69 live prices and $108-109 dressed deals, terminals $64.50-66.70.

The Southwest was quiet as a graveyard, a few Arizona Holsteins making $64. Slow trade in the Northwest was $2 lower at mostly $107.50 dressed.

Feeder cattle and calves once again saw rough going most places.

St. Joe sold 2500 head at a $2-3 lower trend, and Springfield, Mo. also called steer calves $2-3 lower, steer yearlings and both classes of heifers steady.

La Junta, Colo. offered about 5700 head in two days of trading. Steer calves under 600 pounds with quality and condition were termed $2-4 higher but 600-700 pound weights gave up $2; heifer calves under 500 pounds were steady to $2 higher, heavier weights steady to $3 lower.

San Antonio was an exception to the rule, calling steers $5-6 higher and heifers steady to $3 higher. Receipts there totaled fewer than 1000 head, however, casting doubt on the validity of the trend. Amarillo receipts came to 4320 head, trends $1-3 lower on steers under 650 pounds and $1-2 lower on similar heifers, heavier heifers steady and steers without a comparison because of a limited test last week.

Oklahoma City called feeder steers steady to $1 lower and heifers firm, both steer and heifer calves steady. Offerings there came to 14,475 head. Best 300-350 pound steer calves brought $99-109; 350-400 pounds $94-106; 400-450 pounds $92.50-97; 450-500 pounds $88-97; 500-550 pounds $87-94.50; 550-600 pounds $80-88; 600-650 pounds $75.25-85.50; 650-700 pounds $74.25-80.50; 700-750 pounds $72.50-75.50; 550-600 pound yearlings $88.25-89; 600-650 pounds $77.50-87; 650-700 pounds $75.50-82.75; 700-750 pounds $75-78.35; 750-800 pounds $71.25-75.25; 800-850 pounds $70-74.25; 850-900 pounds $69-71; 900-950 pounds $66-68.50.