Fed Cattle Prices $1 Lower
In Sluggish Trade At Midweek

Plains fed cattle trade once again was sluggish at midweek as packers continued to hammer prices and feedlots reasoned that they’d bled about all they could.

The Texas Panhandle area reported something over 64,000 head selling through Wednesday afternoon, nearly 25,000 of those captives and most of the rest moving Tuesday at $64. That’s $1 lower than last week’s main run, but observers said it would buy plenty of cattle; the problem is that packers were only selectively offering it by Wednesday.

The week’s showlist stood at 110,676 head, incentive for buyers to sit back and wait for a cave-in.

Kansas counted about 50,000 head selling, nearly 60 percent of them captives, the balance mostly bringing $64. Nebraska’s total came to 55,500 at $63.50-65 live and $103-104 dressed.

Midwest direct areas were getting $64-65 live by Wednesday, dressed terms $103-104. Terminal markets paid $63-66.20.

The Southwest was slow, a few beef breed steers $64 live and $101 dressed, a handful of Holsteins $60. Active trade in the Northwest was $2 lower dressed at $100-101 after selling at $102-103 early.

Feeder and stocker cattle prices felt the effect of continued thrashing about in the heavier ranks, though there were some limited exceptions.

St. Joseph, Mo. offered fewer than 1000 head to a market that was $2-4 higher on stocker weights but steady to $2 lower on feeder kinds. La Junta, Colo. was $1 lower on yearlings and steady on younger cattle, at least those of quality; lesser kinds were hard to unload.

With about 1600 on hand for two days, San Antonio called feeder steers and heifers $4-6 lower. Amarillo was $2-4 lower on steers and $1-2 lower on heifers, the head count there 3232.

San Angelo’s first special stocker and feeder sale of the year Monday saw numbers pushing 4250 head but prices trend $1-3 lower. Details are elsewhere in this issue.

Receipts at Oklahoma City totaled nearly 17,300 head, the trend $1-2 lower on feeder steers and heifers and $2-4 lower on stockers. Best 300-400 pound steer calves made $105-109; 400-450 pounds $96-107; 450-500 pounds $93.50-104; 500-550 pounds $88-94.75; 550-600 pounds $83-90.50; 600-650 pounds $81-89; 650-700 pounds $76.75-79.50; 700-750 pound stockers $79-81.50; 700-750 pound yearlings $73.25-78; 750-800 pounds $72.50-76.25; 800-850 pounds $70-75; 850-900 pounds $67-73.75; 900-950 pounds $67-71; 950-1000 pounds $65-67.50.