Plains Fed Cattle In Same Rut;
Trading Nil Through Wednesday

"Plains fed cattle trading" has become something of an oxymoron, at least through the first three days of the week; most of the time nowadays, there is no such animal.

This week was no exception, as buyers and sellers sat three to four chairs apart and whistled at the ceiling. Packers again persisted in bidding $64, feedlots in asking at least $67-68, some $68-69 early.

Texas Panhandle movement through midweek was made up strictly of 48,800 head of captives. The area showlist stood at 83,748.

Kansas counted 30,900, also captives. Nebraska tallied some 52,000 for the period, including some Wednesday live sales at $66-66.50 and dressed deals bulking $105.

Spotty Midwest direct trade was mostly $65.50-66.50 live, a few high dressing types to $67, dressed deals $104 to mostly $105. Terminal markets paid variously $63-65 and $65-67.40, a few to $68.

A few Southern California desert area steers at $65.50 saved the Southwest from a washout, and slow trade found the Northwest steady at $104-104.50 dressed.

Stocker and feeder cattle trends were mostly higher across the country, bouyed by continued liberal kill schedules and at least the potential for stronger fed cattle prices.

St. Joseph, Mo. called 2500 head $1-2 higher. Florida trading took a hurricane break after Monday, but a roundup of four auctions at that point found steady prices on 4050 head. La Junta, Colo. offered 2700 head and termed steer calves under 500 pounds $3-5 higher, similar heifers $5 higher, heavier calves $2-3 higher, and yearlings of both flavors steady to $1 higher.

In Texas, Crockett sold 2300 head; weights under 500 pounds were steady to $2 higher, heavier kinds firm to $3 higher. San Antonio moved about 2100 head over two days, finding heifers mostly steady Monday but steers anywhere from steady to $5-7 higher; the biggest gains were on lightweights, which turned around and give up as much as $6 on Wednesday. Amarillo was generally steady on 1819 head.

San Angelo's special feeder sale Monday was firm to $1 higher on roughly 2500 head.

Oklahoma City receipts came to about 9850 head. Steer and heifer calves were steady to $3 higher, feeder weight steers $2-3 higher and feeder heifers $1-2 higher. Best 300-350 pound steer calves brought $103-112.50; 350-400 pounds $100-109.50; 400-450 pounds $97-102.50, one lot of 425 pounders $105.50; 450-500 pounds $91.75-100.50; 500-550 pounds $85.75-93; 550-600 pounds $82-86.75; 600-675 pounds $77-83; 600-700 pound yearlings $81-87; 700-750 pounds $78.50-84.50, 750-800 pounds $77.75-82.50; 800-850 pounds $75.25-78.50; a few 850-900 pounds $72-77.75; and a few 900-1000 pounds $70.25-72.50.