NATIONAL FEEDER

AND STOCKER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

St. Joseph, Mo.

Dec. 2

RECEIPTS

This Week Last Week Last Year

78,900 278,800 292,900

Compared to last week, steers and heifers were too thinly tested to establish a trend, however a sharply higher undertone is noted. Marketing of feeder cattle were limited to the Midwest and Upper Plains states this week as the supply of feeders was light.

However, most sale barns remained dark this week for the holiday and receipts were moderate to heavy in the barns that held sales; most of which were advertised as a special sale in some way or another and occurred mostly on Monday and Tuesday, while the rest were on Friday and Saturday. Demand was good to very good as limited auctions happened Thanksgiving week and available supplies were gobbled up by aggressive buyers. The tightest supply is the lighter calves suitable to go to wheat pastures.

Now comes the storm of three weeks of frenzied marketing of feeder cattle prior to the Christmas holiday. Historically, the next two weeks’ receipts will be among the largest weekly numbers each year.

The CME Cattle Complex has basically been on fire the last three weeks. The March 2025 Feeder Cattle contract closed last Friday at 258.625; 26.00 higher than right after Labor Day. The rise in futures the past month runs counter to the collapse last year when the March 2024 contract was 34.125 lower through this same period.

Negotiated sales of slaughter steers and heifers in TX/OK/NM were 2.00 to 3.00 higher at 188.00 to 190.00. Live sales in Kansas sold 3.00 to 4.00 higher at 190.00. In Nebraska sold 3.00 to 4.00 higher at 190.00 to 192.00, while the light volume of dressed sales sold 5.00 higher at 295.00.

Choice boxed beef closed the week 3.11 higher at 310.52 while Select was 2.23 higher at 274.30 for the same period.

Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 528K for the turkey day holiday week, 103K less than last week and 112K less than a year ago (Thanksgiving was the previous week a year ago.)

Current YTD Cattle slaughter is near 1.1 million head less than a year ago. Auction volume this week included 53% weighing over 600 lbs and 39% heifers.

NORTHWEST WEIGHTED AVERAGE DIRECT FEEDER CATTLE

Weekly Summary WA-OR-ID-UT

Nov. 29

THIS WEEK LAST WEEK LAST YEAR

530 485 2112

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers to lightly tested for a trend. Demand moderate. Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (58.5% Steers, 41.5% Heifers). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 100%. Unless otherwise noted, Feeder Cattle prices FOB based on net weights after a 2% shrink or equivalent, with a 8-14 cent slide >600 lbs. Livestock reported this week originated from CA, ID, NV.

Steers — Medium and Large 1

150 head: 665 lbs, 277.00 Current DEL

Steers — Medium and Large 1-2

35 head: 675 lbs, 265.00 Current DEL

125 head: 775 lbs, 248.00 Current DEL

Heifers — Medium and Large 1

35 head: 650 lbs; 245.00 Current DEL

Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2

185 head: 750 lbs; 234.00 Current DEL

Northwest Direct: https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/AMS_3059.pdf