Fed Cattle Trade At Standoff
On Plains Through Midweek

Packers were finding enough cattle somewhere to confound predictions that they would be in the market early this week. Last week’s meager movement bolstered that notion, but it was shot through and through by midweek.

At presstime, feedlots were asking $67 and bids were coming in at $65. A few thousand head were reported sold at the bid price, but most cattle remained in firm if somewhat shaky hands.

The Texas Cattle Feeders Association counted only 28,000 head selling in their trade area through late Wednesday afternoon, about 17,000 of them captives and the balance mostly Friday deals at $66. The showlist stood at 108,752 head.

Kansas was likewise slow, reporting 42,400 head moving, and 33,000 or 78 percent of those were captives. Nebraska picked up some of the slack, selling nearly 90,000 head at mostly $65-65.50 live and $105 dressed; the bulk of them moved Wednesday morning.

Midwest direct trade was steady to $1 lower at $65-66 live and $105 dressed, terminal markets $63.30-66.60.

The Southwest remained quiet through midweek with no reported trade anywhere. Moderate to heavy offerings in the Northwest sold $3 lower dressed basis at $102-103 in western areas and up to $106 to the east.

Stocker and feeder trade was steady to somewhat lower in most places so far this week.

St. Joseph, Mo. called 1200 head of steers and heifers steady to $2 lower, many potential buyers otherwise occupied with planting chores. La Junta, Colo. offered 1809 head to a basically steady market; yearlings were in short supply.

With receipts of 1250 head for two days, San Antonio was $2-3 lower on steers and mostly steady on heifers. Amarillo was mostly steady to instances $1 lower, the head count about 3150 head.

Rain in the area over the weekend trimmed Oklahoma City receipts to 11,125 head. Feeder and stocker steers under 800 pounds were steady to $1 higher, other weights and classes steady. Best 300-400 pound steer calves brought $105-112; 400-500 pounds $97-108; 500-600 pounds $90.50-99, a few newcrops $85-89; 600-700 pounds $83.25-92.50, 630-700 pounds in medium to fleshy condition $77-85.50; 700-760 pound stockers $79.50-86, feeders $75.50-79.50; 750-800 pounds $73.25-77.25; 800-850 pounds $71.75-76.25; 850-900 pounds $68.75-73.50; 900-1000 pounds $67.50-71.75; and 1000-1025 pounds $66.25-67.