Texas Fed Cattle Trade Stymied
Last Week; Formulas Set Record

AMARILLO —(USDA)— Slaughter steers and Heifers were not well tested last week in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlots.

A limited test the previous Friday sold near steady but the trade remained at a standstill until late Thursday, when another sparse movement took place.

Bids improved to $65-65.50 on Thursday, but feedlots generally continued holding cattle in firm hands. The light movement left feedlots with heavy carryover and packers very short bought. CME futures and boxed beef cutouts were generally supportive early but both saw downturns late. The number of captive cattle remains heavy while the showlist

continues manageable.

Confirmed sales totaled 56,300 head, including 54,100 formulated cattle, which is the most ever recorded.

The weighted average price of all beef type steers was $65.02. The average liveweight of most cattle slaughtered at

area packing plants the previous week was 1181 pounds compared to 1178 a week earlier and 1200 the same week a year ago. Heifer percentages were 42, 44 and 40, respectively.

Some Texas trading:

Slaughter steers: few select and choice 2-3 1150-1300 lbs. $65-65.50, weighted average $65.22; select and few choice 2-3 1150-1300 lbs. $64-64.50, weighted average $64.19.

Slaughter heifers: few select and choice 2-3 1050-1200 lbs. $65, weighted average $65; pen select and few choice 2-3 1100 lbs. $64.