Plains Fed Cattle Trade
At Customary Standstill

Plains feedlots and packers stood anywhere from $3 to $5 apart on their notions of adequate prices through midweek, buyers offering $68-69 and potential sellers seeking $72-73.

That left the Texas Panhandle area with little more to report at presstime than 30,400 captives and a few hundred Friday trades. The area showlist was 53,908 head, up 18 whole bovines from last week, which was the shortest list since about this time in 1996.

The numbers game alone, along with light volume last week, gave feedlots confidence, and observers expected bidding more to their liking Thursday.

Kansas counted 6400 head Wednesday at $112.50 dressed, a few heifers $69.50 live; captives added another 32,600 head. Nebraska's total through midweek was 30,900 head, latest prices $70 live and mostly $112 dressed.

Midwest direct areas were 50 cents to $1 higher by Wednesday at $70-71.40 live and $111-112.50 dressed. Terminals paid $67-72.30.

Limited interest and inquiry in the Southwest produced no trade through midweek. The Northwest was slow but $1 higher at $109 to mostly $110 dressed.

A stronger trend prevailed across most weights and classes of stocker and feeder cattle.

St. Joseph, Mo. reported $1-3 higher prices on 2500 head, and a roundup of four Florida auctions found steady to $1 higher bids on a total of 6734 head. Receipts at La Junta, Colo. came to 2915, prices steady on calves, steady to $2 higher on heifer yearlings, and untested on steer yearlings.

In Texas, Crockett sold 1900 head steady to $2 higher and San Antonio was $2-4 higher on 1475 head Monday; a handful there Wednesday provided no test. Amarillo moved 2470 head, heifers $2-3 higher, as were steers under 600 pounds, and heavier steers went untested.

Roughly 12,000 head sold firm to $3 higher at Oklahoma City. Best 300-350 pound steer calves made $109.50-117; 350-400 pounds $104.50-107.50; 400-450 pounds $97-106.75; 450-500 pounds $94-104.25; 500-550 pounds $89-97; 550-600 pounds $85.75-92.25; 600-650 pounds $82-89.50; and 650-700 pounds $78-85; 600-650 pound yearlings were $88.50-91.50; 650-700 pounds $84-90.25; 700-800 pounds $83-87.75; 800-850 pounds $78-79.50; and 850-900 pounds $74.50-76.50.