Plains Fed Cattle Immobile
At Midweek Over $2-4 Gulf

Most Plains feedlots still hadn't moved a hoof by late Wednesday afternoon, following last week's 118,000-head volume.

Buyers and sellers were separated by $65-66 bids and $68-69 asking prices, the latter spurred by $67-67.50 highs last week.

The Texas Panhandle counted sales of 44,200 head, but almost 41,000 of those were captives, the balance Friday trades. The showlist stood at 86,000 head.

Kansas movement was 23,700 head, virtually all captives. Nebraska sold 5000 head Wednesday at $67.50-68 live and mostly $107 dressed, adding up to a weekly total of 18,700 head.

Midwest direct trade was $1-2 higher at $66.50-68 live and $106-107 dressed. Terminal markets paid $65-69.40.

The Southwest remained quiet through midweek, the Northwest $2 higher in active trading at $106-106.50 dressed.

Stocker and feeder cattle prices regained their footing in most areas this week following last week's fat cattle rally.

St. Joseph, Mo. called 2000 head $2-3 higher on weights over 550 pounds but poorly tested on lighter kinds. A roundup of four Florida auctions offering 7664 head between them found steady rates. La Junta, Colo. counted 5043 head and quoted steer calves $2-3 higher, heifer calves $3-5 higher, steer yearlings steady to $1 higher and heifer yearlings $1-2 higher.

In Texas, Crockett was mostly steady on weights under 500 pounds, steady to $1 lower on heavier weights; receipts came to 2486 head. San Antonio sold 1300 head Monday at steady to weak rates on steers and steady to $3 higher going on heifers; another 500 head Wednesday saw steers gaining as much as $2, heifers over 600 pounds picking up $2-3, but lighter heifers losing the same amount. Amarillo was generally steady on 3268 head.

San Angelo's special feeder sale Monday found prices firm.

With 9800 head on hand, Oklahoma City called feeder steers $1 higher, feeder heifers $1-2 higher, calves of both persuasions steady. Best 325-400 pound steer calves brought $105-112; 400-450 pounds $97.50-105.50; 450-500 pounds $91-101; 500-550 pounds $84-91; 550-600 pounds $80-86.75; 600-680 pounds $78-84.75; yearlings weighing 600-700 pounds were $80.25-86; 700-800 pounds $79-83.50; 800-850 pounds $77.75-81.75; 850-900 pounds $76-80.50; and 900-950 pounds $72-76.