NATIONAL FEEDER

AND STOCKER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

St. Joseph, Mo.

Jan. 6

RECEIPTS

This Week Last Week Last Year

99,500 202,400 180,900

Compared to two weeks ago, steers and heifers sold 3.00 to 8.00 higher on limitedauctions nationwide this past week. With the New Years holiday in the middle of the week, many auctions decided to take the whole week off and some could get caught up on maintenance issues. Those that did have auctions were mostly in Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa and cattle were purchased actively and on good demand. Those states attributed nearly 90 pct of the auction receipts on this report this week. In addition, Joplin Regional Stockyards held two large sales this week and accounted for nearly 22K head of the roughly 100K reported. Cattle feeders paid no attention to the futures contracts as they fail to keep pace with the fundamentals of the cash trades. The light auction offerings helped to fan the flames on the feeder cattle market as cattle feeders want to get cattle bought right now. Large auction receipts expected next week as auction markets get back on their normal weekly schedules except for in the areas affected by Winter Storm Blair over the January 4-5 weekend. Some sales in Missouri are being totally postponed or moved to other weekdays due to the Arctic Blast that dumped ice and mountains of snow in areas that are not accustomed to that much snow. In addition, it could take days for ranchers to dig out to county roads to get livestock transported to sales. Some areas reportedly have over a foot of snow in one setting, that amount is normal for the whole winter season for them. The cash fed cattle market shot higher again, leaving the CME Live Cattle futures contracts around 4.00 under the cash. Negotiated sales of slaughter steers and heifers in the Southern Plains sold 4.00 higher at 196.00 to 197.00. In Nebraska, live sales were 3.00 to 4.00 higher at 200.00, while dressed sales sold 8.00 higher at 315.00. For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 325.24, 2.86 higher and Select closed at 296.72, 5.59 higher. Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 498K, 64K more than last week and 44K less than a year ago. Auction volume this week included 69 percent weighing over 600 lbs and 38 percent heifers.

NORTHWEST WEIGHTED AVERAGE DIRECT FEEDER CATTLE

Weekly Summary WA-OR-ID-UT

Jan. 10

THIS WEEK LAST WEEK LAST YEAR

2024 n/a 830

Compared to last report: Not enough comparable sales for a market trend. Trading activity and demand have picked up following the holiday break Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (66.6% Steers, 33.4% 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, UT, WA.

Steers — Medium and Large 1

170 head: 630 lbs, 315.00 CURRENT FOB

244 head: 665 lbs, 293.90 CURRENT DEL

845 head: 850 lbs, 258.52 JAN FOB

Steers — Medium and Large 1-2

22 head: 600 lbs, 297.00 Current DEL

56 head: 725 lbs, 272.00 Current DEL

11 head: 750 lbs, 267.00 Current DEL

Heifers — Medium and Large 1

151 head: 600 lbs; 297.00 Current DEL

45 head: 775 lbs; 242.00 CURRENT DEL

120 head: 950 lbs; 224.00 CURRENT DEL

360 head: 800 lbs; 245.52 JAN FOB

National Feeder Stock: https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/sj_ls850.txt

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