Plains Fed Cattle Movement
Stalled Once More At Midweek

Plains feedlots were quiet through midweek as bids and asking prices stood $3-4 apart following last week's $1 decline on modest movement.

Texas Panhandle yards were asking $71-72 against a few $68 bids. Captives accounted for virtually all of the area's 31,400 head tally on a showlist of 58,111.

Kansas counted 3500 head for Wednesday at $111 dressed; the balance of the week's 45,800 head were captives. Nebraska, with 18,900 for the period, received $70 live and mostly $111 dressed.

Midwest direct areas reported only carcass deals at $110.50-111. Terminals paid anywhere from $67 to $72.

The Southwest managed no sales through midweek and only limited to fair inquiry. Slow trade in the Northwest found prices $1 lower dressed at $110-111.

Stocker and feeder cattle price trends, red-hot for several weeks, showed a slight hint of tempering in some areas this week.

St. Joseph called 2500 head steady to $2 lower, but noted that the market was hampered by a 10-inch snowstorm. A roundup of four Florida auctions selling 7460 head between them reported a steady to $2 higher trend. La Junta, Colo., with 4550 head on hand, termed steer calves under 500 pounds $2-3 higher and heifer calves and heavier steers $1-2 higher; yearling steers under 800 pounds were $2 higher, heavier kinds steady, and heifer yearlings untested.

In Texas, Crockett offered 1720 head and found steers and heifers under 500 pounds steady to firm, heavier weights firm to $2 higher. San Antonio was steady to $3 higher on 2311 head over two days. Amarillo receipts came to 1200 head, steers over 500 pounds $2-3 higher, lighter steers untested and heifers steady.

Oklahoma City was $1-3 higher on feeder weight steers and heifers, steady to $2 lower on calves; numbers reached 8000 head. Best 300-400 pound steer calves earned $113.50-124; 400-450 pounds $105-117.50; 450-500 pounds $100-109; 500-550 pounds $94.50-104; 550-600 pounds $88.50-99; 600-650 pounds $88-95; 700-750 pounds $77.50-80.75; 600-700 pound yearlings were $88.50-94.75; 700-750 pounds $88-93; 750-800 pounds $86-90.50; and 800-850 pounds $84-87.75.