Plains Fed Cattle Movement
Nil On $3-4 Gulf At Midweek

Plains feedlots had moved only a handful of cattle through midweek as buyers and sellers pondered a $3-4 price differential.

Texas Panhandle lots were asking $72-73 against $69-69.50 bids, and only a few hundred head had changed hands, mostly at $71. The area showlist was up, but by fewer than 2800 head, at 56,632. Captive trades came to 33,800 head.

Kansas counted 43,100 head, virtually all captives. Nebraska's tally was 60,500 for the week, a few live deals at $71 and dressed terms mostly $113.

Midwest direct areas were untested aside from Nebraska, terminals mostly steady in a wide range of $68.50 to $72.25.

The Southwest was quiet at midweek under limited to fair interest and inquiry. A $2-3 higher trend prevailed in the Northwest, dressed basis, with prices of $112-114.

Stocker and feeder cattle enjoyed good demand and an impressive price trend.

St. Joseph, Mo. called 4000 head $1-3 higher, some calves $3-6 higher, and a roundup of four Florida auctions found prices $2-4 higher on a total of 6420 head. La Junta, Colo. offered 4244 head and reported steer calves $5-8 higher, heifer calves $5-6 higher, and yearling steers and heifers $2 higher.

In Texas, Crockett quoted a firm to $2 higher trend on 1219 head. San Antonio was steady to $4 higher on 1100 head Monday, the greatest advance on weights under 500 pounds; a few hundred more Wednesday were steady to $2 higher, instances $5-7 higher. With scant receipts of about 800 head, Amarillo was steady to $2 higher.

Oklahoma City receipts totaled 6500 head, demand termed "extremely good," and trends $3-6 higher on calves, $2-4 higher on feeder weights. Best 300-400 pound steer calves earned $111.50-121; 400-500 pounds $107.50-115.50; 500-550 pounds $96-105.50; 550-600 pounds $92-99.50; 600-700 pounds $86.25-94.75; 600-650 pound yearlings $91-95.50; 650-700 pounds $87-90.50; 700-750 pounds $86.25-89.75; 750-800 pounds $85.25-87.50; 800-830 pounds $81.50-84.75; and 905 pounds $78.