Much Stouter Plains Cattle
Trade Develops At Midweek

Plains fed cattle trade kicked off at midweek again this session, uncharacteristically early by recent standards. It was also uncharacteristically higher — as much as $2.

Panhandle feedyards by late Wednesday afternoon had moved 53,726 head at live prices ranging from $64 early to $65 later before buyers pulled back. With an additional 29,900 captives, the total through midweek was nearly 83,600 on a showlist of 107,642. Observers expected more trade on Thursday.

Kansas sold 25,200 head, mostly around noon Wednesday and at $64 to mostly $65; captives added another 13,900 to the count. Nebraska's total stood at 35,000 head, prices mostly $64-64.50 live and $102 dressed with extremes to $101 and $103.

Midwest direct trade was mostly $64-65 live and $101-102 dressed. Terminal markets were $60-62.50.

The Southwest was quiet except in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and Nevada areas, where a moderate trade brought $63 on beef-breed steers and $59.50 on Holsteins. The Northwest saw good demand on short numbers, prices steady to $2 higher at $101 dressed.

Stocker and feeder trends were varied enough to cause whiplash.

St. Joseph called 4800 head steady to $1 higher overall, but 4221 head at four Florida auctions were steady on weights over 600 pounds and steady to $2 lower on lighter kinds. With receipts of 3864 head, La Junta, Colo. sold steer calves under 450 pounds steady, middle weights steady to $1 lower and those over 700 pounds steady to $3 lower; heifers under 450 pounds were steady to $1 higher, middle weights steady to $1 lower, and 600-700 pound offerings $2 higher.

In Texas, Crockett was steady to $2 lower across the board on 1344 head, and San Antonio called the same trend on two-day sales of 2900 head. Amarillo moved about 1900 head at steady rates on heifers as well as on steers under 500 pounds, but a $1-2 lower trend on heavier steers.

Oklahoma's head count came to 16,500, the trend steady to $3 lower on most feeder weight steers and steady to $1 lower on similar heifers; steers over 900 pounds and heifers over 800 were $1 higher, and stocker cattle were firm to $2 higher. Best 400-450 pound steer calves brought $94-104; 400-500 pounds $89-95.25; 500-600 pounds $82.50-89.75, several thin and fancy $89-94; 600-650 pounds $77.75-84; 650-700 pounds $72-81.50; 700-750 pounds $72-76.50; 750-800 pounds $68.75-73.75; 800-850 pounds $68-73.25; 850-900 pounds $66.50-69; and 900-1000 pounds $65.75-69.75.