Plains Fed Cattle Trade Quiet
As Bids $2 Below Asking Price

A two dollar gulf separated bids and asking prices across the Plains Wednesday as packers offered $62 and feedlots sought $64. Observers expected something to happen Thursday, as has become common.

Texas movement was all of the captive variety at 28,900 head by USDA's tally. The showlist was up about 6000 head at 78,931, still a light list compared to recent months.

Kansas reported movement of 32,900 head, mostly captives, as in Texas. Nebraska's count came to only 11,700 head through midweek, some heavy steers bringing $60 live and other trades at $98 dressed.

The Midwest was quiet as well, with no test in the direct areas and terminals paying $58.50-61 at last report.

Silence prevailed throughout both the Southwest and Northwest.

Stocker and feeder cattle trade was mostly higher across the country, except where weather was a factor.

That factor entered into trends at St. Joseph, where wet, muddy conditions knocked $1-3 off yearling prices on an estimated 2000 head; calves were untested. A compilation of four Florida auctions offering a total of 3800 head found steady trends. With about 3000 head on hand, La Junta, Colo. called yearlings mostly steady, steer calves steady to $1 higher and heifer calves $2 higher.

In Texas, Crockett was steady to $3 higher on 2526 head and San Antonio offered fewer than 1000 head to a $3-5 higher market on steers and $4-6 higher on heifers. Receipts at Amarillo came to 3370 head, steers and heifers under 600 pounds $1-2 higher and heavier weights steady.

Oklahoma City, where 14,000 head sold, was impacted by wet weather that drove feeder weight steers and heifers down $1-3. Calves, by contrast, sold steady to $2 higher. Best 250-300 pound steer calves brought $98-109; 300-400 pounds $90.50-100.50; 400-450 pounds $87-95.25; 450-500 pounds $80-87.75; 500-550 pounds $75.75-83.75; 550-600 pounds $71.75-79.50; 600-700 pounds $64.50-72.75; 600-700 pound yearlings $70.50-75.25; 700-800 pounds $66-73.50; 800-850 pounds $65-71; and 850-900 pounds $60-68.