Plains Fed Cattle Rise Again,
Most Movement Coming Tuesday

Rare Tuesday trading this week saw Plains feedlots still on a roll. After gaining $1-2 on heavy volume last week, fat cattle piled on another $2 or more late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association counted more than 70,000 head selling on a live basis, the majority at $71 with a handful to $71.25. That is in addition to 40,300 formulas. The Panhandle area showlist was 86,000 head.

Kansas tallied 63,000 for the week in the same price range, captives accounting for 24,600 or about 39 percent. Nebraska's count came to 79,400 and included a part load as high as $71.50; dressed deals ran mostly $111-112 by Wednesday.

Midwest direct trade closed $70-71.25 live by Wednesday, dressed prices $110-112. Terminal markets paid $67-71.60.

The Southwest was quiet through midweek, the Northwest only lightly tested as packers avoided the higher trends prevalent elsewhere by sticking to formulas and contract cattle.

Stocker and feeder price trends were decidedly mixed, though steady to higher rates appeared to predominate.

St. Joseph, Mo. was $1-2 higher on 1200 head, a roundup of four Florida auctions steady to $2 higher on 8077 head between them. La Junta, Colo. revealed the mixed nature of trading on 5275 head; feeder weight steers were $1 higher and similar heifers steady, while calves sold $2-3 lower.

In Texas, Crockett called 2765 head steady to firm on weights under 500 pounds, steady to $1 higher on heavier kinds. San Antonio was steady to $6 higher Monday on 1564 head. With receipts of 3100 head, Amarillo was steady to $2 lower on weights under 600 pounds, heavier heifers steady to $1 higher and heavier steers poorly tested.

Oklahoma City was steady on feeder steers and both flavors of calves but $1-2 lower on feeder weight heifers; receipts totaled 11,700 head. Best steer calves weighing 300-350 pounds brought $103-114; 350-400 pounds $101.50-108.75; 400-450 pounds $93.50-107; 450-500 pounds $92-100; 500-550 pounds $84.25-92.50; 550-600 pounds $80-86.50; 600-700 pounds $77-85; 700-735 pounds $77-79.25; yearlings, 600-700 pounds $81.25-86.50; 700-800 pounds $78.25-83.25; 800-850 pounds $77-80; and 850-900 pounds $72.50-79.50.