NATIONAL FEEDER

AND STOCKER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

St. Joseph, Mo.

Dec. 18

RECEIPTS

This Week Last Week Last Year

274,500 329,500 255,000

Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher. Demand was moderate with buyers continue to want shots and weaning programs on the story of the cattle in the ring.

The weather has yet to stabilize and the sharp differences between day and nighttime temperatures continues to yield a lot of sick calves. Feedyards are not too inclined to take on calves unless they have some bells and whistles this time of year.

The drought areas are not as widespread this year, however, larger cow/calf states continue to be listed there. The drought-stricken state of Texas has now shared the conditions with their neighbors to the east as near all of Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, and all of Mississippi are severely impacted.

The CME Cattle Complex provided some positive gains this week after 3 consecutive weeks of devaluations on those contracts. Cattle feeders were willing to chase the feeder market a little, but cash fed cattle slipped into the high 160s to converge with the spot futures contract month.

In the North Plains, most auctions will not host feeder cattle sales again until the start of the New Year, which helped support the feeder cattle market as well in that area.

On light trading, negotiated cash fed cattle trade in the Nebraska sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower at 168.00 to 170.00, while the dressed sales sold steady to 3.00 lower at 267.00 to 268.00.

Live sales in the Southern Plains were reported 1.00 lower at 170.00.

Boxed beef found some support this week to close positive this week. Choice boxed beef closed the week 3.63 higher at 291.64 while Select was 2.92 higher at 260.82 for the same period.

Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 649K, 14K more than last week and 27K more than a year ago. This week’s cattle harvest is the largest since week ending July 1.

Auction volume this week included 47 percent weighing over 600 lbs and 40 percent heifers.

Northwest Weighted Average Direct Feeder Cattle

Weekly Summary WA-OR-ID-UT

Dec. 22

This Week Last Week Last Year

315 1135 1810

NOTE: This report will not be published Dec. 29 due to the holidays. The next report will be on Jan. 5.

Compared to last week: No comparable trades to test trends. Demand good for feeder cattle but numbers limited going into the holidays. Supply included 100% Feeder Cattle (41.3% Steers, 58.7% Heifers). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 100%. Unless otherwise noted, Feeder Cattle prices FOB based on net weights after a 2-3% shrink or equivalent, with a 4-8 cent slide >600 lbs. Livestock reported this week originated from ID, OR.

Steers — Medium and Large 1

65 head: 820 lbs, 205.00 Current DEL

65 head: 850 lbs, 200.00 Current DEL

Heifers — Medium and Large 1

65 head: 760 lbs, 198.00 Current DEL

120 head: 925 lbs, 188.00 Current DEL