Flurry Of Trading Captures
Many Fed Cattle At Midweek

Plains fed cattle trade broke its recent pattern this week, producing a flurry of activity on Wednesday.

Feeder interests weren't cheering, however, despite the fact that sales were made at $62-62.50, $1-1.50 above packers' initial bids. The problem, at least in Texas, is that only one packer was involved, and that outfit's interest lasted only about 30 minutes.

Panhandle area sales came to 29,000 for the day, bringing the week-to-date total to 52,420 head on a 71,626-head showlist. Most of the remainder, more than 21,000, were captives.

Kansas moved about 12,000 head for the day and 34,800 for the period, including 20,200 captives; prices were similar to those in Texas. Nebraska's count through midweek was 55,200 head, live prices also in line with elsewhere and dressed deals mostly $98.

Midwest direct trade was mostly $61.50-62.50 live, a few as low as $61; dressed prices $97-98 with a few to $98.50 early. Terminal markets paid $58-62.50.

Quiet reigned throughout most of the Southwest, save for 350 head in the Southern California desert area at $61 on beef breeds and $57 on Holsteins. The Northwest saw slow trade at $97-98 dressed.

Stocker and feeder cattle prices, sagging for the last few weeks, generally turned around.

St. Joseph, Mo. offered 4000 head to a market termed steady to $2 higher than the last test two weeks ago, and the same trend prevailed at four Florida auctions selling 6824 head between them. La Junta, Colo. sold 5000 head and called steer calves $1-2 higher, instances up to $5 higher, heavier steer calves $2-4 higher and yearling steers $2-3 higher; heifer calves were $2-3 and instances $5 higher on the light end, heavier calves steady to $2 higher and heifer yearlings $1 higher.

San Antonio sold about 1300 head Monday at a $2-3 higher rate on steers and steady on heifers, then offered another 730 head Wednesday at prices $3-5 higher across the board. Amarillo was generally steady on 1059 head.

Oklahoma City was $2-4 higher on calves and $1-2 higher on feeder weights, receipts there 8356 head. Best 300-350 pound steer calves earned $101-106; 350-400 pounds $97.50-103; 400-450 pounds $91.50-103; 450-500 pounds $84-93.50; 500-550 pounds $79-85.50; 550-600 pounds $76.50-83.75; 600-650 pounds $73-78; 650-700 pounds $67.50-72.50; 700-740 pounds $65.25-69.75; yearlings weighing 600-650 pounds were $73.25-78.50; 650-700 pounds $69-75; 700-750 pounds $72.75-73.75; 750-800 pounds $70-71.75; 800-850 pounds $64-70.75; 850-900 pounds $63.75-66.25; and 900-950 pounds $62.50-65.75.