Plains Fed Cattle Regain $2
In Massive Trade At Midweek

Plains fed cattle trade came roaring back this week, prices regaining $2 to trade actively Wednesday at mostly $66.

Packers held out for two days, drawing on nearly 37,000 captives in the Texas Panhandle region alone, but in the end they had to spend some money, and that end came Wednesday morning.

The Texas Cattle Feeders Association counted a whopping 139,209 head selling in their trade area through Wednesday afternoon, the fourth largest weekly volume on record. Wednesday’s daily trade, at 105,136, was also the fourth largest day.

The massive selloff outstripped the week’s 115,320-head showlist, something feeders have been trying to accomplish for several weeks now.

Kansas counted 83,900 head for the week at $66 live and $105-106 dressed. Nebraska’s 88,100-head tally through midweek was also rung up at $66 live and $106 dressed, a few to $107.

Midwest direct trade areas paid $66-66.25 live and $105-106 dressed, terminal markets anywhere from $63 to $67.20.

The Southwest was quiet through the latest reports, but the Northwest picked up $1 dressed basis at mostly $104-105, a few on the outside at $103 and $105.50.

Stocker and feeder trade was generally steady in most areas, a few places lower on certain classes.

St. Joseph, Mo. called 1200 head fully steady on both steers and heifers. La Junta, Colo. offered 3450 head to a market that was steady on feeder steers and steady to instances $1 higher on heifers, yearlings of both flavors steady.

San Antonio, with 2000 head for two days, was generally lower against last week’s prices Monday but called Wednesday’s trends steady on steers and steady to $3 lower on heifers. Amarillo’s 3000 head sold fully steady.

With 11,375 head on offer, Oklahoma City called both stocker and feeder weight steers steady, heifers steady to $2 lower. Best 400-500 pound steer calves brought $99-106; 500-550 pounds $93-100; 550-600 pounds $90.75-94.50; 600-700 pound stockers $82-89.50, a few $90.50-93; a few 700-710 pound stockers $80-83.25; a few 650-700 pound feeders $77.50-80.50; 700-750 pounds $74.25-80; 750-800 pounds $73-76.25; 800-850 pounds $70.75-75.25; 850-900 pounds $69-73.25; 900-1000 pounds $67.25-70.25; 1000-1050 pounds $65-67.25.