NATIONAL FEEDER

AND STOCKER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

St. Joseph, Mo.

Dec. 9

RECEIPTS

This Week Last Week Last Year

389,400 78,900 329,500

Compared to two weeks ago, steer and heifer calves sold 15.00 to 25.00 higher while yearlings were 4.00 to 9.00 higher as there were not enough sales receipts to compare to last week with.

It was another upbeat week in the country as demand for cattle outweighs the supply currently. Even with a big week at the auctions overall the supply is tight as demand was very good nationwide for cattle to turn out on wheat in the Southern Plains or background in a yard in the Northern Plains.

Grazing calves that come with shots and a few bells and whistles seem to have no top with some of the feather weights are at/near record setting price levels.

The aggressiveness of buyers has left audience members in the seats questioning when/where the market will stop with the upturned values of these feeder cattle on offer. Prices have pushed up to record or very near record highs again for all weights of cattle.

Even though the CME Feeder Cattle futures were 3.00 to 4.00 lower on the week, that could not drag the auction prices lower. As the year winds down a lot of special replacement cow sales around the state offering opportunities for producers to add to the herd.

Overall growth of the cow herd is very questionable at this point of the year and more likely numbers are just being maintained as the extremely high feeder prices have not been encouraging for producers to hold and develop heifers over the last year. Negotiated sales of slaughter steers and heifers in the Southern Plains 1.00 at 191.00. In Nebraska, sales were steady at 190.00 to 192.00, while the light volume of dressed sales sold steady to 3.00 higher at 295.00 to 298.00, mostly 297.00.

Choice boxed beef closed the week 1.52 higher at 312.04 while Select was 2.43 higher at 276.73 for the same period.

Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 614K, 78K less than last week and 24K less than a year ago.

Auction volume this week included 45% weighing over 600 lbs and 41% heifers.

NORTHWEST WEIGHTED AVERAGE DIRECT FEEDER CATTLE

Weekly Summary WA-OR-ID-UT

Dec. 6

THIS WEEK LAST WEEK LAST YEAR

277 530 771

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers too lightly tested for a trend. Demand good. Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (73.3% Steers, 26.7% 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 8-14 cent slide >600 lbs. Livestock reported this week originated from ID, WA.

Steers — Medium and Large 1-2

65 head: 725-730 lbs, 255.62 Current DEL

18 head: 860 lbs, 232.00 Current DEL

120 head: 975 lbs, 220.00 Current DEL

Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2

28 head: 645 lbs; 248.00 Current DEL

30 head: 670 lbs; 249.00 Current DEL

12 head: 800 lbs; 222.00 Current DEL

4 head: 910 lbs; 212.00 Current DEL

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