Plains Fed Cattle Trade Slow,
Few Thousand Lower Wednesday

Plains fed cattle trade through midweek was a slow affair with only a few thousand head moving. These were mostly Select offerings and sold slightly lower than last week's peak of $71 and change. Observers believed the real market was still to come.

The Texas Panhandle recorded about 6500 head by late afternoon Wednesday at $70, many of them said to belong to customers willing to take that money and run rather than hold for the $71-72 generally sought. An additional 35,300 head of formulas moved off a 77,690-head showlist.

Kansas counted a few $70 trades, but most of the 28,700 head total there were captives. Nebraska's 14,200 head for the week ran mostly $70 live and $110-111 dressed.

Midwest direct areas reported a few trades at $69-70 live and mostly $110-111 dressed. Terminals paid anywhere from $67 to $71.10.

The Southwest was quiet save for a handful of Holsteins at $66 in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and Nevada area. Active trade in the Northwest was steady at $108-109 dressed.

Stocker and feeder cattle were generally softer in most areas this week.

St. Joseph called 1200 head steady on weights over 600 pounds but steady to $2 lower on lighter kinds. A roundup of four Florida auctions selling 6818 head between them found an unevenly steady trend. La Junta, Colo. sold 4400 head with a light test on calves and steady to $1 lower prices on yearlings.

In Texas, Crockett went unreported. San Antonio sold 1231 head Monday at $2-4 lower prices on weights under 500 pounds and steady to $3 higher on heavier offerings; another 650 head Wednesday took an additional $3 off steers. Amarillo receipts totaled 3078 head, weights under 600 pounds steady to $2 higher, heavier steers steady but heavier heifers $1-2 lower.

With 12,550 head on hand, Oklahoma City termed calves steady to $4 lower and feeders steady except for a $3 decline on steers weighing more than 825 pounds. Best 325-400 pound steer calves earned $96-104; 400-450 pounds $93-104; 450-500 pounds $86-95; 500-550 pounds $85.50-90.50; 550-600 pounds $80-87.25; 600-650 pounds $78-84.50; and 650-700 pounds $78.25-81.25; yearlings weighing 600-700 pounds were $83.25-87.25; 700-750 pounds $79.50-84.75; 750-800 pounds $79.25-81.25; 800-850 pounds $74.50-82.50; 850-900 pounds $71.50-75.50; and 900-950 pounds $70-73.