Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Across The Country Last Week

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —(USDA)— Feeder cattle prices around the country held an even keel last week, most steers and heifers near steady on limited receipts for this time of year. Calf prices in Kentucky, Tennessee and the Southeast showed a little spark and prices moved steady to as much as $3 higher.

Numbers were only around half those for the same period a year ago as buyers and sellers had a hard time getting together.

Bleak news was around every corner except for cheaper feed costs, but even lower breakevens failed to stimulate feedlot buyers whose entire attention is apparently centered on the fed cattle trade. Fed cattle lost another dollar with most sales in the High Plains completed at $59.

Boxed beef prices lost a little strength but are still substantially more than live procurement costs, demonstrating that the buying side is definitely in control.

More heat and dry weather stifled Texas and much of Oklahoma with no end in sight, according to forecasters. A break in the pattern and rain needs in these areas are becoming even more critical with wheat and oat planting seasons for pasture not really that far away.

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

Some trading:

Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma: steers, medium and large No. 1 700-800 lbs. $66.50-69, 825-850 lbs. $65-67.50; 525 lbs. delivered $81, 550-675 lbs. $73-74, 700-800 lbs. $69-71, 825-885 lbs. $68.50-69.50; 725-750 lbs. for October and November delivery $69-70, 775 lbs. for December $72.75; 750 lbs. $1 over August CME board delivered; heifers, load 535 lbs. $68.50, 600-685 lbs. $63.50-67.50; $74 delivered 675-825 lbs. $67-69.75.

Oklahoma: steers, medium and large No. 1 650-675 lbs. $68-68.50, 700-775 lbs. $67-69, 800-825 lbs. $66-67.50, 850-900 lbs. $65.60-66, 975 lbs. $62; Holsteins, large No. 2 775 lbs. $45.50; heifers, 625-675 lbs. $64-66, 725-750 lbs. $63.50-65.

Colorado: steers, medium and large No. 1 850 lbs. $68; 775-800 lbs. delivered $70, 900 lbs. $67.50; heifers, 760 lbs. $67; 725-800 lbs. delivered $65-67.

Wyoming, Western Nebraska, Western North and South Dakota: steers, medium and large No. 1 800 lbs. $66.50 f.o.b.; 865 lbs. delivered $70; heifers, 850 lbs. $66; 765 lbs. delivered $69.

Montana: steers, medium and large No. 1 900-925 lbs. $65-66; heifers, 875 lbs. $63.

Washington, Oregon and Idaho: steers, medium and large No. 1 850-875 lbs. $63; 850-875 lbs. delivered $64-64.50; 800 lbs. $60; 800 lbs. delivered $62.

Arkansas: auction, steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $81-90, 350-400 lbs. $77-85, 400-450 lbs. $74-82, 450-500 lbs. $70-77, 500-550 lbs. $68-75, 550-600 lbs. $66-72, 600-700 lbs. $64-71, 700-800 lbs. $62-68.

Kentucky: auction, steers, medium and large No. 1 200-300 lbs. $82-92, 300-350 lbs. $76-84, few $85-88, 350-400 lbs. $71-80, 400-500 lbs. $70-80, some $81-83.50, 500-600 lbs. $67-76, few $77-80.50, 600-700 lbs. $64-74, few $75-78, 700-800 lbs. $62-70.50, 800-900 lbs. $63.60-67.10; Holsteins, large No. 2 300-400 lbs. $55-67.50, 400-500 lbs. $51.25-62, 500-600 lbs. $51-57.50, 600-700 lbs. $51-55, 700-900 lbs. $46.50-55; heifers, 200-300 lbs. $73-81, 300-400 lbs. $65.50-75.50, 400-450 lbs. $67-75.50, 450-500 lbs. $64-72, 500-600 lbs. $63-73, 600-700 lbs. $57-67, 700-800 lbs. $54-63.

Tennessee: auction, steers, medium and large No. 1 300-350 lbs. $75-85, 350-400 lbs. $73-82, 400-450 lbs. $71-79, 450-500 lbs. $69-77, 500-550 lbs. $66-74.50, few $77, 550-600 lbs. $66-72.50, 600-650 lbs. $65-71, 650-700 lbs. $62-68.50, 700-800 lbs. $61-67; heifers, 300-350 lbs. $67-77, 350-400 lbs. $64-72.50, 400-500 lbs. $62-70, 500-550 lbs. $61-70, 550-600 lbs. $58.50-65.50, 600-700 lbs. $58-65.50.

Southeastern complex: steers, medium and large No. 1 200-250 lbs. $90-100, 250-300 lbs. $84-94, 300-350 lbs. $81-91, 350-400 lbs. $74-84, 400-450 lbs. $70-80, 450-500 lbs. $65-78 mostly $67-77, 500-550 lbs. $66-72, 550-600 lbs. $60-70, 600-650 lbs. $62-68, 650-700 lbs. $60-66, 700-800 lbs. $57.50-65; heifers, 200-250 lbs. $72-80, 250-300 lbs. $68-80, 300-350 lbs. $66-76, 350-400 lbs. $62-72, 400-500 lbs. $60-70, 500-550 lbs. $58-67, 550-600 lbs. $57-66, 600-650 lbs. $55-64, 650-700 lbs. $54-62.