Compared to two weeks ago: Feeder steers under 900 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 higher, over 900 lbs 5.00 to 15.00 higher. Feeder heifers steady to 5.00 higher. Good to very good demand for all weights and classes this week, however the best demand was centered on yearling steers weighing over 900 lbs that will reach finished weights in the fourth quarter of the year. Corn futures finished the week higher but the feeder futures posted nearly a limit higher gain on Tues along with a nearly 2.00 gain for Live Cattle which shot a healthy dose of optimism back into the cattle feeders' mindset. Packers' bids also firmed up and had to give more money to get cattle bought, this vital turnaround in the fed cattle market helped the feeder cattle market even more. Cattle feeders have been stuck under a cloud of bearishness as the Live Cattle futures have seemed to be setting the cash market for the last two months. Packers finally got short bought enough that they had to come to the table and raise bids to get cattle bought, leaving a huge basis over the Aug contract. As this happened cattle feeders found new hope that maybe the worst of the market could be behind them and they should act now, while the cattle are available, to get their pens filled back up to get cattle bought that will fit that winter market. Auction receipts were light, as they always are for this time of the year but there were big strings offered on Thursday and buyers were in town and eager to get cattle bought. Flesh condition was a key factor however, especially in the light of much higher forecasted cost of gain, as the light fleshed cattle found an active market while those carrying more flesh weren't as easy to sell. Cattle feeders have had to perservere through a very challenging year and have to be selective about they type of cattle they buy as efficient gaining becomes even more of a factor when gain costs rise. Slaughter cows steady to 1.00 lower, bulls steady.
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 77 | — | 709 | 144.00–149.00 | 144.78 |
| 32 | — | 528 | 166.00 | 166.00 |
| 30 | — | 828 | 128.50–129.00 | 128.68 |
| 24 | — | 888 | 123.50 | 123.50 |
| 9 | — | 373 | 181.00 | 181.00 |
| 4 | — | 756 | 141.00 | 141.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 69 | — | 579 | 156.00–168.50 | 165.89 |
| 59 | — | 481 | 175.00–183.75 | 182.12 |
| 843 | — | 969 | 124.50–141.90 | 134.10 |
| 696 | — | 925 | 134.00–144.25 | 142.80 |
| 170 | — | 872 | 132.00–140.60 | 139.54 |
| 152 | — | 633 | 161.00–173.00 | 163.12 |
| 145 | — | 772 | 145.25–156.50 | 151.16 |
| 126 | — | 679 | 147.00–163.00 | 159.91 |
| 110 | — | 826 | 136.00–141.50 | 139.26 |
| 107 | — | 735 | 147.00–157.00 | 155.04 |
| Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 102 | — | 1,121 | 118.00–120.25 | 119.09 |
| 377 | — | 1,021 | 121.25–138.00 | 127.57 |
| 89 | — | 1,091 | 118.25–121.50 | 120.50 |
| 67 | — | 1,177 | 113.70–115.50 | 114.49 |
| 8 | — | 778 | 140.50 | 140.50 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 683 | — | 882 | 146.75–148.75 | 147.69 |
| 278 | — | 905 | 145.35–146.75 | 145.99 |
| 170 | — | 958 | 140.00–142.35 | 141.51 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 12 | — | 723 | 125.00 | 125.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 81 | — | 812 | 122.50–128.25 | 126.96 |
| 23 | — | 538 | 152.00–154.00 | 152.26 |
| 22 | — | 481 | 152.50–156.00 | 153.30 |
| 614 | — | 873 | 119.50–128.50 | 122.96 |
| 560 | — | 968 | 118.00–125.00 | 121.53 |
| 446 | — | 920 | 118.50–126.50 | 122.51 |
| 316 | — | 729 | 131.00–140.00 | 137.26 |
| 245 | — | 780 | 122.00–133.50 | 130.29 |
| 237 | — | 681 | 134.00–145.50 | 139.66 |
| 232 | — | 575 | 145.00–156.50 | 149.63 |
| 85 | — | 625 | 137.00–149.25 | 145.48 |
| Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 24 | — | 1,048 | 112.50 | 112.50 |
| 104 | — | 1,062 | 120.10 | 120.10 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 66 | — | 936 | 117.00 | 117.00 |
| 30 | — | 851 | 116.50–117.50 | 117.23 |
| 10 | — | 588 | 133.00 | 133.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 16 | — | 817 | 115.00 | 115.00 |
| 6 | — | 558 | 141.00 | 141.00 |
| 6 | — | 442 | 153.00 | 153.00 |
| 5 | — | 476 | 136.00 | 136.00 |
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heifers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 147 | — | 1,219 | 110.50–114.00 | 111.98 |
| 119 | — | 1,326 | 112.00–115.25 | 113.41 |
| Heifers — Select and Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 14 | — | 1,099 | 108.50–110.00 | 109.15 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 38 | — | 1,251 | 51.00–59.00 | 55.11 |
| 19 | — | 1,244 | 44.00–52.50 | 48.50 |
| Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 61 | — | 1,515 | 63.50–70.50 | 67.59 |
| 37 | — | 1,589 | 53.00–59.00 | 56.45 |
| 12 | — | 1,622 | 69.00–72.50 | 71.20 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 42 | — | 1,354 | 56.00–64.00 | 59.62 |
| 13 | — | 1,457 | 52.00–56.00 | 54.97 |
| Dairy Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 138 | — | 1,405 | 83.00–87.50 | 85.54 |
| Steers — Select and Choice · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 84 | — | 1,193 | 114.50–115.00 | 114.66 |
| Steers — Select and Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 44 | — | 1,195 | 111.00 | 111.00 |
| Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 508 | — | 1,385 | 112.00–115.00 | 113.41 |
| 59 | — | 1,527 | 113.75–117.00 | 114.78 |
| Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 13 | — | 1,702 | 75.00–83.00 | 79.15 |
| 9 | — | 1,841 | 83.00–88.50 | 86.85 |
| 3 | — | 2,190 | 89.00–92.00 | 90.98 |