Compared to last week: Feeder steers were all too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on offerings under 650 lbs while mostly lower undertones were noticed on steers over 650 lbs. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs not well compared, 550-649 lbs heifers traded mostly unevenly steady, while heifers over 650 lbs traded with lower undertones. Quality this week was average to attractive with many load lot offerings seen on Wednesdays sale. Outside of Wednesday very few feeder cattle were offered. Demand was mostly moderate on light to moderate offerings. Most cattle were in thin to light flesh this week and many were developed strictly for grass. CME positions continue to see very volatile movement. Feeder cattle futures fell the limit Monday and spent much of the week inching higher. As Thursdays settlements April contract closed at 118.25, May at 118.475, and August at 128.625 which is 1.275, 0.475,and 0.25 lower respectfully from last Thursdays close to this Thursdays close. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Packers showed mostly moderate to good demand for slaughter cows this week. A late season snow storm in the Midwest tightened supplies available to packers leading to higher prices throughout the week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-7.00 higher on lean and boning cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend as packers purchased most cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-7.00 higher. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week. Weigh up conditions were average. Weekly beef slaughter remains light through Thursday. Week to date slaughter was 376,000 head compared to 417,000 head last week and 488,000 head last year. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold generally steady. Feeding demand remains moderate and continues to support this class of cows due to low cost.
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 255 | — | 740 | 124.00–129.00 | 126.20 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 23 | — | 877 | 102.00 | 102.00 |
| 18 | — | 849 | 102.50 | 102.50 |
| 11 | — | 745 | 114.00 | 114.00 |
| 98 | — | 487 | 148.00–152.00 | 149.67 |
| 123 | — | 543 | 149.00 | 149.00 |
| 91 | — | 680 | 119.25–121.25 | 120.51 |
| 75 | — | 572 | 138.50–145.50 | 141.16 |
| 44 | — | 755 | 116.50 | 116.50 |
| 89 | — | 623 | 125.25–137.00 | 129.48 |
| 16 | — | 401 | 148.00 | 148.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 10 | — | 774 | 105.00 | 105.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 9 | — | 623 | 121.00 | 121.00 |
| 3 | — | 585 | 123.00 | 123.00 |
| 38 | — | 791 | 101.50–104.00 | 103.35 |
| 15 | — | 680 | 113.00–116.00 | 114.95 |
| 13 | — | 422 | 143.50–147.00 | 145.85 |
| 6 | — | 470 | 141.00–145.50 | 143.32 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 180 | — | 768 | 119.00 | 119.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 4 | — | 689 | 130.00 | 130.00 |
| 6 | — | 372 | 165.00 | 165.00 |
| 2 | — | 570 | 147.00 | 147.00 |
| 3 | — | 757 | 119.00 | 119.00 |
| 10 | — | 830 | 107.50 | 107.50 |
| 13 | — | 641 | 125.00 | 125.00 |
| 34 | — | 733 | 117.00–122.00 | 118.95 |
| Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 4 | — | 621 | 122.00 | 122.00 |
| Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 7 | — | 682 | 113.50 | 113.50 |
| 10 | — | 760 | 113.00 | 113.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 10 | — | 664 | 155.00 | 155.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 170 | — | 631 | 142.00–157.50 | 154.63 |
| 156 | — | 781 | 120.25–124.50 | 124.39 |
| 87 | — | 802 | 119.50–120.50 | 120.33 |
| 77 | — | 572 | 158.00–168.00 | 162.60 |
| 71 | — | 674 | 131.00–138.50 | 134.10 |
| 34 | — | 866 | 109.50–111.50 | 110.43 |
| 58 | — | 470 | 165.00–172.00 | 170.01 |
| 50 | — | 912 | 109.00–110.50 | 110.22 |
| 18 | — | 541 | 162.00–164.00 | 163.56 |
| 17 | — | 726 | 124.00–125.50 | 124.86 |
| Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 3 | — | 760 | 104.00 | 104.00 |
| Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 6 | — | 80 | 200.00–350.00 | 286.69 |
| 1 | — | 995 | 94.00 | 94.00 |
| 3 | — | 948 | 98.00 | 98.00 |
| Bulls — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 4 | — | 426 | 125.00 | 125.00 |
| 7 | — | 463 | 130.00 | 130.00 |
| 3 | — | 520 | 127.50 | 127.50 |
| Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 2 | — | 1,173 | 81.00 | 81.00 |
| Age | Stage | Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||||
| Young (2-4 yrs) | Open | 34 | — | 1,181 | 54.00–75.00 | 68.38 |
| (<2 yrs) | Open | 14 | — | 971 | 79.00–94.00 | 88.01 |
| Middle Aged (5-8 yrs) | Open | 4 | — | 1,380 | 50.00–55.50 | 54.19 |
| Aged (>8 yrs) | Open | 4 | — | 1,461 | 48.50 | 48.50 |
| Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||||
| Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) | Open | 6 | — | 1,402 | 1,500.00 | 1,500.00 |
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 11 | — | 1,242 | 54.75–57.50 | 56.85 |
| 24 | — | 1,275 | 45.00–54.00 | 51.23 |
| Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 10 | — | 1,519 | 55.00–55.50 | 55.45 |
| 1 | — | 1,615 | 59.00 | 59.00 |
| 1 | — | 1,530 | 52.50 | 52.50 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 2 | — | 968 | 45.00–50.00 | 47.56 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 21 | — | 1,395 | 54.00–57.50 | 55.85 |
| 11 | — | 1,459 | 50.00–53.50 | 52.76 |
| Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 1 | — | 2,640 | 82.00 | 82.00 |
| Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 15 | — | 1,682 | 76.00–82.50 | 79.40 |
| 8 | — | 2,165 | 82.50–84.50 | 83.55 |
| 4 | — | 1,686 | 66.00–73.50 | 71.48 |