Plains Fed Cattle Stalled
After Big Volume Last Week

Plains feedlot trading through midweek was as quiet as a frat party at the College of Mimes.

Near-record volume last week gave packers a little breathing room with which to hold the line against higher pricing demands in the neighborhood of $68-69. At the same time, it took enough supply off feeders’ hands that they had the slack to resist steady $66 bids. Observers were betting on a $67-68 market Thursday.

As it was, the Panhandle moved only 19,410 head through Wednesday, and better than 18,000 of those were captives, the balance at $67. The showlist was 105,017 head.

Kansas moved 26,200 head, virtually all captives. Nebraska’s count came to 14,300 at $67 live and $106-107 dressed, a few to $108 early.

Midwest direct trade was light at $67-68 live and $106-108 dressed. Terminal markets paid anywhere from $63 to $68 depending upon what and where.

Slow to moderate activity in the Southwest saw beef breeds bringing $65-66 live and $104.50 to as much as $107.50 dressed, Holsteins $101 dressed. The Northwest was steady to firm in active trade at mostly $105-106 dressed, a few to $106.50.

Feeder and stocker cattle markets were mixed.

St. Joseph, Mo. offered 1600 head and called both steers and heifers steady to $2 higher. Receipts at La Junta, Colo. came to 2286 head; most classes were steady, 500-700 pound heifers $2-4 lower.

With 1800 head over two days, San Antonio reported a steady market on steers and a steady to $3 higher trend on heifers. Amarillo was steady on steer and heifer calves, steady to $1 higher on weights over 600 pounds; receipts totaled 2739 head.

Oklahoma City was steady on a light run of stocker steers and heifers, feeder steers steady to $1 higher but feeder heifers steady to $1 lower on receipts of 15,250 head. Best 300-400 pound steer calves brought $105.50-112.50; 400-500 pounds $101.50-110.50; 500-600 pounds $88-96, a few thin to $98.50 and a few newcrop calves $80-90; 600-650 pounds $84.50-88.75; 650-700 pound stockers $82.75-88.25; 700-730 pound stockers $78.25-84; 650-700 pound feeders $77.50-83.75; 700-750 pounds $74.25-80.75; 750-800 pounds $73.50-76.50; 800-850 pounds $71.50-76.75; 850-900 pounds $70.25-74; 900-950 pounds $67.75-71; and 950-1000 pounds $66.50-68.75.