Plains Fed Cattle Stalemated
Through Midweek One More Time

Plains fat cattle trading once again was stalled at midweek as packers sought to hold their ground and feedlots tried to claw their way back out of the hole.

The Texas Cattle Feeders Association counted about 42,000 head moving through Wednesday afternoon, but nearly 40,000 of those were captives by USDA’s reckoning. The few live sales recorded were at $56 as most feeders held out for $57 or $58.

Even with captives, Kansas at midweek stood only at 9600 head; it was unclear whether the no-captives pledge so lightly dismissed by packers was responsible. Nebraska, also a no-captives pledge area, counted only 6400 cattle moving at mostly $56-56.50 live and $90-91 dressed. Presstime reports of a late flurry of $57 trades in Western Nebraska couldn’t be quantified.

Midwest direct trade remained mostly inactive through midweek as well, terminals showing a little stronger undertone at $55-58.10 on steers, $54-57.25 on heifers.

The Southwest was quiet, the Northwest $1 lower in a light test at $86-87 dressed.

Reduced holiday-week trade in stocker and feeder cattle was lower in most areas again.

St. Joseph, Mo. was an exception with a steady to $1 higher trend on seasonally light receipts. La Junta, Colo. offered about 1800 head and termed steers too few to test but heifers steady to $1 lower.

In Texas, Crockett sold 1250 head on a market that was $1-3 lower, instances as much as $5 lower. San Antonio’s receipts were too short for a test, and Amarillo counted 1750 head across the scales in a weak to $2 lower trend.

Oklahoma City sold only 3575 head; feeder weights there were $1-3 lower, stockers $3-7 lower. Best 250-300 pound steer calves brought $75-82; 300-350 pounds $74.50-78.50; 350-400 pounds $72.50-75.50; 400-500 pounds $70-74.50; 500-600 pounds $66-73.50; 600-650 pounds $69-71.75; 650-700 pounds $68.50-69.50; and 700-800 pounds $64.25-66.50.