Texas Fed Cattle Trade Lower
Last Week, Mostly Wednesday

AMARILLO —(USDA)— Slaughter steers and heifers sold mostly $2 lower last week in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading. The bulk of the trade occurred on Wednesday with moderate movement on Thursday.

Daily declines in boxed beef cutout values kept buyers cautious and bidding lower on fed cattle. Most feedlots sold all or parts of showlists with light to moderate carryover noted, and in most cases these kinds need more time on feed.

Sales were confirmed on 98,000 head including 39,300 formulated cattle. The weighted average price of all beef type steers was $64.06. The average liveweight of most cattle slaughtered at area packing plants the previous week was 1168 pounds compared with 1161 a week earlier and 1183 a year ago. Heifer percentages were 44, 43 and 41, respectively.

Slaughter steers and heifers sold $1-2 lower in other marketing areas. Dressed sales were as much as $4 lower. Packer demand was moderate to good as margins continue in the black. Boxed beef reached the top and tumbled just over $4 to average $107.26. Beef movement is still good as another large Saturday kill was expected.

One quarter of the Russian beef aid package has been requested for the first full week of July. This will give a boost to end and variety meats and have a positive effect on the cash market.

Some Texas trading:

Slaughter steers: select and choice 2-3 1150-1300 lbs. $64-64.50, few $64.60-64.65, weighted average price $64.09; select and few choice 2-3 1150-1300 lbs. $63-63.50, weighted average $63.32; select and choice 1-3 1250-1300 lb. Holsteins $56-58; carcass basis select and choice 2-3 1150-1250 lbs. $100.

Slaughter heifers: select and choice 2-3 1050-1150 lbs. $64-64.50, weighted average $64.08; select and few choice 2-3 1050-1200 lbs. $63-63.50, weighted average $63.25.