Texas Fed Cattle Prices Steady
In One-Day, One-Buyer Trading

AMARILLO —(USDA)— Slaughter steers and heifers sold steady in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week. Trade took place Thursday afternoon but was only moderate and only one packer bought the majority of the cattle.

Trading in the South Plains was hampered by two wet snows that caused weight losses and mud.

Boxed beef cutouts and CME futures both trended higher, but this strength was offset by limited demand. Some feedlots sold their showlists but others carried cattle over. Most feedyards remain near capacity with numbers of market-ready cattle gradually increasing. The total count was 60,500 head, including 31,200 formulated cattle.

The weighted average price of all beef type steers was $69.96. The average liveweight of most cattle slaughtered at area packing plants the previous week was 1191 pounds compared to 1179 a week earlier and 1184 a year ago. Heifer percentages were 43, 47 and 42, respectively.

In other trading areas slaughter cattle sold steady to $1 lower, declines in the north. Packer demand was moderate after boxed beef made slight gains. Most showlists were cleared, except in the south. Southern feedlots were hit hard with winter storms leaving very muddy conditions. Some lots showed up to a 30-pound loss on finished cattle due to mud. These lots were reluctant to sell. Feedlots in the north are now seeing discounts on heavier weight cattle.

In all areas the number of market-ready cattle is slowly increasing. Boxed beef prices inched upward and gained 30 cents to average $110.38. According to analysts, beef demand will hold the key to any up or down live cattle market in the weeks to come.

Some Texas trading:

Slaughter steers: select and choice 2-3 1150-1300 lbs. $70, few pens $70.50-71 and pen early $69, weighted average $70; select and few choice 2-3 1150-1300 lbs. $69-69.50, weighted average $69.25.

Slaughter heifers: select and choice 2-3 1050-1200 lbs. $70, few pens $70.50-71, weighted average $70.02; select and few choice 2-3 1050-1200 lbs. $68.50-69, weighted average $68.84.