Texas Fed Cattle Prices Inch
Higher, Most Trade Wednesday

AMARILLO —(USDA)— Slaughter steers and heifers closed steady to mostly $1 higher in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week. Trade was slow throughout most of the week with Wednesday's active movement of 44,300 head the largest day.

Demand was fair to moderate, the bulk of showlists being moved by week's end. However, some feedyards failed to clean up lists. The week's upturn was prompted mainly by CME futures trading $1.67 higher. Beef cutout values failed to support price advance and worked slightly lower.

The average liveweight on cattle was only 21 pounds heavier than a year ago. Sales were confirmed on 72,500 head including 25,100 formulated cattle. The weighted average price of all beef type steers was $61.88. The average liveweight of most cattle slaughtered at area packing plants the previous week was 1181 pounds compared to 1184 a week earlier and 1160 a year ago. Heifer percentages were 38, 40 and 41, respectively.

Slaughter steers and heifers were steady to mostly $1 higher in most other trading areas.

The estimated composite of boxed beef cutout values on Choice 2-3 550-700 pound carcasses was down 48 cents at $101.12, 700-850 pounds up two cents at $100.08.

Some Texas trading:

Slaughter steers: select and choice 2-3 1100-1250 lbs. $61-62.50, mostly $62, a few the previous Friday at $60, weighted average price $61.89; select and few Choice 2-3 1200-1250 lbs. $60-61, weighted average $60.69; few select and choice 1-3 1300 lb. Holsteins $55-56.

Slaughter heifers: select and choice 2-3 1000-1150 lbs. $61-62.50, mostly $62, a few the previous Friday $60, weighted average $61.84.