Brief Flurry Of Plains Fed
Cattle Trading Takes $1 Off

Plains feedlots sold cattle on Wednesday for the first time in a while, but they weren't proud of it.

The midweek movement came at the expense of a dollar in the market, $2 if you count what many feedlots had hoped to get. After holding out for mostly $66 in Thursday trade last week, the Wednesday sales came in at $65 following a drop in the futures board.

Texas Panhandle volume ran about 25,500 head on top of roughly 29,000 captives. The showlist began at 96,540, and more selling was expected Thursday.

Kansas reported only about 2500 head of live sales through midafternoon Wednesday, plus another 23,000-plus captives. Nebraska's tally was 65,800 for the period at mostly $64.50-65 live and $103-104 dressed; late sales looked more like $64 live and $102 dressed.

Midwest direct trade by Wednesday came in at $64-65 live, a few sales to $65.25, and $103-104 dressed. Terminal markets paid from $62 to $65.20.

The Southwest was quiet with the exception of Arizona, where a few pens of mostly Select steers brought $64. The Northwest was steady in slow going at $103-104 dressed.

Stocker and feeder cattle trends ranged steady to higher in most areas, though there were exceptions.

St. Joseph called a rain-reduced run of 1400 head steady to $2 higher but noted that quality and condition likely played a role. A roundup of four Florida auctions found steady to $2 higher prices on a total of 4098 head. In Texas, Crockett sold just over 1000 head but declined to call a trend. San Antonio quoted prices $5-7 higher Monday on a light run, but peeled $2-3 off Wednesday on enough cattle to total about 1000 head over the two days. With 2200 head on hand, Amarillo was steady to $1 higher on both steers and heifers.

Despite devastating tornadoes, Oklahoma City attracted 15,300 head. The price trend there bucked the norm, however, with feeder weights steady to $1 lower and newcrop calves $2 lower. Best 350-400 pound steer calves earned $94-98; 400-450 pounds $88-98; 450-500 pounds $84.50-92, fleshy $81.50-86.50; 500-550 pounds $86.50-92.25, fleshy $84-85; 550-600 pounds $83-93, fleshy $80.25-83.50; 600-650 pounds $78.50-84.50; 650-700 pounds $74-83.25; 700-750 pounds $70-74.75; 750-800 pounds $66-71.50; 800-850 pounds $65-70.25; 850-900 pounds $62.75-66.25; 900-950 pounds $61.75-63.50; and 950-1000 pounds $60-62.75.