Plains Fed Cattle Trade Quiet;
Bids Up $1, But Sellers Want $2

Plains fed cattle trade was mostly quiet at midweek as both sides fought over the last dollar.

After early bids of $60-61 failed to attract takers, packers upped the ante to $62 Wednesday. That was supposed to buy a lot of cattle, but many sellers smelled a stronger futures board and opted to hold for $63. At midday, battle lines were drawn over the difference.

The Texas Cattle Feeders Association counted only 3000 head selling for the day, bringing the weekly total to 22,112, of which nearly 20,000 were captives. The week’s showlist stood at 104,780 head.

At presstime, Kansas was still trying to amass enough numbers for an adequate test; with a going rate of $62 live and $102 dressed, the week’s total was 12,600 head, 11,400 of them captives. Nebraska had a better showing, counting 71,000 in mostly Wednesday trade at $62-63 live and $100-102 dressed.

The Southwest was slow, a few pens of mostly Select steers in the Southern California desert area making $63. Slow was the watchword in the Northwest as well, though prices were $1.50 higher dressed basis at mostly $102.50, a few out at $99.

The general trend on feeder cattle was steady to higher across the country this week, but local conditions and uncertainty in the fat market took a toll on some weights in some areas.

St. Joseph, Mo., for example, didn’t sell this week, citing "hazardous weather conditions threatening the lives of men and animals."

La Junta, Colo. reported receipts of 6799 head and steady prices on yearling steers and heifers. Other steers were generally steady to $1 higher, instances to $2 higher on 400-500 pounders; heifers under 500 pounds were steady to $1 higher, 500-600 pounds $1-2 higher, but heavier weights $1-2 lower.

San Antonio sold about 1200 head in two-day trade that saw steers range anywhere from steady to $5 lower, heifers steady to $3 lower. Amarillo offered 2895 head to a market that was $1-2 higher on steers under 700 pounds and heifers under 600 pounds, but steady to $1 lower on heavier weights of both classes.

With 9900 head on hand, Oklahoma City found feeder weight steers and heifers steady, but stockers weak to $3 lower in the face of bad weather. Best 400-450 pound steer calves earned $96.25-106; 450-500 pounds $91.50-94.25; 500-550 pounds $89-91.50, fancy $93.75-98; 550-600 pounds $81.25-92; 600-650 pounds $81-87.50, fancy $84-91.25; 650-700 pounds $76-80; 700-750 pounds $73.50-76.75, few 715-pound stockers $77-79; 750-800 pounds $72.25-76.25; 800-850 pounds $72-76; 850-900 pounds $68-73.75; 900-950 pounds $68.25-71.50; and 1000-1010 pounds $65-65.25.