Plains Fed Cattle Standoff
Underway Again At Midweek

Plains fed cattle trading was hung on top dead center at midweek as packers offered $63 or less and feedlots sought $65 or better.

Texas Panhandle feedlots, with a scant showlist of fewer than 73,000 head, appeared little inclined to give ground, though observers said $64 would probably buy plenty of cattle. Movement at presstime stood at 35,500 head for the week, including about 28,500 captives.

The Kansas count was 30,500, dominated by almost 23,000 captives, and Nebraska also tallied 35,000 head with a modest number of live sales at $63 and dressed deals at $98-99.

Midwest direct areas received $61-62 live and $98-99 dressed, terminal markets anywhere from $58 to $62.

Both the Southwest and Northwest shared in the generally somnolent market, reporting too few trades to call prices or trends. That included Canadian imports in the Northwest.

Stocker and feeder cattle prices were a mixed bag, parts of the Midwest and Plains being washed out and other areas reporting trends ranging from lower to higher.

St. Joseph, Mo. was one of the areas hit by heavy rains and unable to quote a market. In Florida, a roundup of four auctions selling 8185 head between them called trends generally steady. La Junta, Colo. offered only 1513 head to a market that was steady on yearlings and light steer calves, $2 lower on heifer calves and steer calves weighing more than 600 pounds.

In Texas, Crockett called 2738 head steady to $1 higher. San Antonio sold about 1460 head over two days; prices were steady to weak on steers Monday, heifers steady to $1 higher, but Wednesday's session dropped $3-7. About 2000 head in Amarillo faced a steady to $2 lower market.

Monday's special feeder sale in San Angelo attracted 4700 head and sold them firm to $2 higher.

Oklahoma City was steady in a light test of feeder weight steers and heifers, steady to $2 lower on steer calves and $1-2 lower on heifer calves. Receipts totaled 8900 head. Best 300-400 pound steer calves brought $90-96.50, 400-450 pounds $86-94.50, thin $92-96.50; 450-500 pounds $78.50-86.75, thin $86.25-89, fleshy $76.50-77.50; 500-600 pounds $70.50-77.50, 600-670 pounds $67.50-73.50; 600-700 pound yearlings $70-75.25; 700-750 pounds $70.75-73.50; 750-800 pounds $68-71.75; 800-850 pounds $66-72; and 950 pounds $64-65.