Midweek Standoff On Cattle
Follows Good Price Gains

Plains fed cattle trade was at a standstill through midweek after a couple of weeks of significant price gains.

Texas Panhandle feedyards had moved fewer than 1700 head on a live basis by Texas Cattle Feeders Association count. Another 38,100 head sold on a formula basis. Packers were attempting to regain lost ground, bidding $2 lower at $64 while feedyards generally sought steady money at $66. The showlist stood at 113,671 head.

Kansas tallied only 16,400 head for the week, all captive deals, while Nebraska reported 10,600 head, too few to establish a price.

Midwest direct trade also remained quiet at midweek, terminals $61-63.60.

The Southwest echoed the silence elsewhere, and the Northwest called dressed prices $1-3 lower at $103 "in anticipation of a lower boxed beef market."

Stocker and feeder cattle prices once again moved in all directions.

St. Joseph called 4900 head $1-3 higher, while a collection of four Florida auctions was generally steady on a total of 4069 head. La Junta, Colo. offered 7165 head and termed steers under 700 pounds steady to $1 lower, heavier weights $1-2 lower, heifers under 700 pounds steady to $2 lower and heavier weights $2-3 lower.

In Texas, Crockett was steady to $1 lower on about 1000 pounds. San Antonio sold 1550 head over two days and called steers under 700 pounds mostly steady, heavier kinds $3-4 higher; heifers were generally steady to $1 higher, though lightweights rose as much as $2-3. Amarillo was steady on most of its 2531-head offering, 700-800 pound steers an exception with a $1-2 higher trend.

With a light run of 5600 head, Oklahoma City sold steers steady to $1 lower and heifers $1-2 lower. Best 400-450 pound steer calves earned $94-100; 450-500 pounds $91-92.50; 500-550 pounds $83.75-88; 550-600 pounds $80.50-86.25; 600-650 pounds $77.50-80; 650-700 pounds $72-79; 700-750 pounds $71-75.75; 750-800 pounds $69-72.75; 800-850 pounds $67.25-71.25; 850-900 pounds $65.50-69; and 900-975 pounds $63-66.50.