Flurry Of Midweek Activity
Moves Cattle At Steady Rate

A flurry of midweek trading moved a slew of Plains fed cattle at steady prices, the second week in a row that trades were made in a timely manner.

The Texas Panhandle area sold better than 68,000 head Wednesday at mostly $63 with a couple of thousand to $63.50. That brought the week's live trade to 71,565 head plus nearly 30,000 captives, not far shy of the 113,570-head showlist.

Kansas counted 38,300 through midweek at mostly $63, Nebraska about 55,000 at $62-63 live and $99-100 dressed.

Modest movement in Midwest direct areas saw prices ranging from $61 to $63.25 live and $98.50-99 dressed. Terminals paid $58-60.70.

The Southwest had yet to get untracked at midweek, but active trade in the Northwest came in $1 lower at mostly $99-101 dressed; a few deals were as low as $96-98.

Stocker and feeder cattle prices were all over the map, but the general trend appeared to be stronger.

St. Joseph could report only a firmer undertone on a relative handful of cattle, but 4800 head at four Florida auctions were termed steady. La Junta, Colo. offered 4000 calves and yearlings and quoted calves under 500 pounds $2 higher, heavier steer calves $1-3 higher and feeder weight steers $1-2 higher; heifer yearlings were steady to $1 higher.

In Texas, Crockett was steady to $1 higher on 1275 head. San Antonio sold steady to $2 lower Monday on 1500 head but came back with another 650 head Wednesday and regained most of the lost ground on steers; heifers held steady to weak. With receipts of 1630 head, Amarillo was steady to firm.

Oklahoma City offered about 15,000 head and reported a weak to $2 lower trend on all steer weights, $1-2 lower on feeder heifers and a firm trend on heifer yearlings. Best 400-500 pound steer calves earned $89.50-95.50; 500-600 pounds $80-90.75; 600-650 pounds $76.50-84; 650-700 pounds $72.50-78.75; 700-750 pounds $73-76.25; 750-800 pounds $72-74.75; 800-850 pounds $69-73.50; 850-900 pounds $66.25-70.25; and 900-1000 pounds $65-67.50.