Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices
Continue Their Downward Plunge

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —(USDA)— Prices for feeder cattle and calves continued their downward plunge last week, steers and heifers $1-3 lower.

Numbers presented for sale were meager even by summer standards, as neither buyers nor sellers liked the price level. Buyers for feeders pushed prices lower, making it hard to find any kind of news with a bullish nature.

Texas, parts of New Mexico, western Oklahoma and on into the Southeast continue to suffer drouth conditions with temperatures soaring and winds hot and strong. The Osage and Flint Hills caught some rain showers during the week and were reported to be in good condition for grazing.

Fed cattle sellers threw in the towel early last week and settled for $63 in the High Plains, which was $1 less than the previous week. Boxed beef prices slid modestly lower, and heavy carcass weights continued to plague the industry. Corn prices were uneven from day to day, depending on which forecast was more believable at the time: too wet and cool or too dry and hot, and closed the week 2-13 cents higher than the previous week.

Yearlings made up approximately 52 percent of the week's feeder run.

Some trading:

Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma: steers, medium and large No. 1 few 750 lbs. $71-72, 825-895 lbs. $64-69.50, 900-925 lbs. $64-67; 550-650 lbs. delivered $74-80, 750-815 lbs. $70-72; heifers, 625-810 lbs. $65-69.50; 700-750 lbs. delivered $65-68.

Oklahoma: steers, medium and large No. 1 785 lbs. $73, 800-875 lbs. $67-71 upper end of the range not offered late, few 900 lbs. $65; 600 lbs. for July 15 through August 1 delivery $76; heifers, 700-725 lbs. $68; 575 lbs. for July 15 through August 1 delivery $72.

Colorado: steers, medium and large No. 1 several loads 825 lbs. delivered $72; heifers, couple loads 750 lbs. delivered $70.50.

South Dakota: steers, medium and large No. 1 part load 745 lbs. $77, 800-900 lbs. $71.50-73, 900-1000 lbs. $67-70.50.

Wyoming, Western Nebraska, Western North and South Dakota: steers, medium and large No. 1 load 670 lbs. delivered $80, 775-830 lbs. $69.25-72.50; auction, 615-760 lbs. $72.50-76.50, 800-915 lbs. $68.50-72.85, load 960 lbs. $64.75; heifers, 610 lbs. $74; auction, 400 lbs. $84, 645-780 lbs. $66.60-67.35, load 840 lbs. $65.75.

Montana: steers, medium and large No. 1 couple loads 750-800 lbs. $73.50-74; auction, fancy string 650 lbs. $85.10, small lot 745 lbs. $73.50; heifers, auction, small lot 660 lbs. $72, 700-725 lbs. $67.

Washington, Oregon and Idaho: steers, medium and large No. 1 925 lbs. $64; 575 lbs. delivered $86, 800-900 lbs. $67-68, 900-950 lbs. $65; few 625 lbs. delivered for September and October $76; auction, 550-600 lbs. $83.50-86, 600-700 lbs. $73-77, 700-800 lbs. $67-75, 800-900 lbs. $67.50-69, 950 lbs. $62.50, heifers, few 525 lbs. $80, 800-825 lbs. $66-67; 825-860 lbs. delivered $65-65.50; auction, 450-500 lbs. $77, 550-600 lbs. $71-77, 600-700 lbs. $67.50-72, 700-800 lbs. $66.75-68.

Arkansas: auction, steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $86-95, 350-400 lbs. $81-90, 400-450 lbs. $76-84, 450-500 lbs. $74-82, 500-550 lbs. $71-78, 550-600 lbs. $69-76, 600-700 lbs. $67-74, 700-800 lbs. $64-71; heifers, 300-350 lbs. $72-80, 350-400 lbs. $71-78, 400-450 lbs. $69-76, 450-500 lbs. $67-74, 500-600 lbs. $65-72, 600-700 lbs. $63-70, 700-800 lbs. $60-65.

Kentucky: auction, steers, medium and large No. 1 200-300 lbs. $90-99, 300-400 lbs. $82-92, 400-450 lbs. $78-87, 450-500 lbs. $73-85, 500-600 lbs. $73-82, some $83-87, 600-700 lbs. $70-78, 700-800 lbs. $66-74, 800-900 lbs. $61.50-71.50; Holsteins, large No. 2 300-400 lbs. $54-63, few $64-67, 400-500 lbs. $58-64, few to $67, 500-600 lbs. few $55-64, 600-700 lbs. few $54.50-64, 700-900 lbs. few $48-56; heifers, 200-300 lbs. $80-88, 300-350 lbs. $75-83, 350-400 lbs. $70-80, 400-500 lbs. $70-78, 500-550 lbs. $68-76, 550-600 lbs. $64-73, 600-700 lbs. $63-70, few to $73, 700-800 lbs. $60-68.

Tennessee: auction, steers, medium and large No. 1 300-400 lbs. $83-93, 400-450 lbs. $77-87, 450-500 lbs. $75-86, 500-550 lbs. $73-81, 550-600 lbs. $73-78, 600-700 lbs. $68-76; heifers, 300-400 lbs. $71-80, 400-500 lbs. $69-78, 500-600 lbs. $64-74, 600- 700 lbs. $64-72

Southeastern complex: steers, medium and large No. 1 200-250 lbs. $90-110, some $116, 250-300 lbs. $85-100, 300-350 lbs. $85-95, 350-400 lbs. $77-87, 400-450 lbs. $77-88, 450-500 lbs. $71-84, mostly $74-84, 500-600 lbs. $68-78, some to $81, 600-650 lbs. $68-78, 650-700 lbs. $63-70, 700-800 lbs. $62-68; heifers, 200-250 lbs. $77-90, 250-300 lbs. $73-83, 300-350 lbs. $70-80, 350-400 lbs. $67-77, 400-500 lbs. $65-75, 500-600 lbs. $62-75, many $65-75, 600-650 lbs. $63-72, 650-700 lbs. $58-65.