NATIONAL AND LOCAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY - WEEK ENDING 02.26.2010
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week 295,700 56,700 4,300 356,700
Last Week 255,600 72,100 48,000 375,700
Last Year 248,400 44,000 6,400 298,800
Compared to last week’s sharp gains, feeder steers and heifers weighing over 700 lbs sold mostly steady with several areas reporting newfound weakness to offset those that were still realizing strength left over from last week.
Stocker cattle and calves continued in high demand with price levels firm to 3.00 higher and some instances quoted as much as 7.00 higher than last week’s advances. Pressure was placed on the heavier feeders as the CME cattle futures opened the week lower and packers were able to talk feedlots into an early-week trading session at price levels that were steady to 1.00 lower, stifling the recent fed cattle market rally that cattle growers have cheered-on for the past three weeks.
Live slaughter cattle sales ranged from 89.00-92.00 (91.00-92.00 in the Southern Plains) and dressed sales were from 144.00-145.00.
Hedged feeders fell victim to an opening in the basis between cash and the maturing February Live contract that fell nearly 2.50 this week to end its reign as the spot market.
Stocker cattle trading remained active this week but were not quite as whippy as last week, with price levels reaching the point of diminishing self satisfaction for auction buyers that looked like a gaggle of texting teenagers as they figured price per head on their calculators.
Salebarn receipts were fairly heavy this week as country road conditions improved in many areas and sellers were able to move their livestock to market.
No one escaped the cold weather this winter with snow measurements recorded in all 50 states at the same time in February across the United States. However, signs of spring were reported this week as a few cattlemen unzipped their coveralls and folded up the earmuffs on their stocking caps.
Most Americans can’t remember a longer and colder winter, as we anticipate the sun spending more time on our side of the globe.
Backgrounders continue to assemble their late winter and early spring grazers, but temperatures in most areas will delay available forage for a few weeks longer than normal.
Mud will be the next inhibitor as frozen fields thaw out and wheat producing farmers will want cattle moved off pastures prior to March 15th.
Cow/calf producers are starting to welcome this spring’s calf crop into the world and many midwives (husbands) will stay up day and night for the next several weeks. Beef tonnage loss due to weight sapping weather has lessened the condition of every class of cattle and a higher subsequent death-loss of newborns is expected. Year to date cattle harvest is running right on schedule, but beef production (in pounds) is 1.5% lower so far compared to last year. This week’s reported auction volume included 54% over 600 lbs and 44% heifers.
Auction Receipts: 295,700 Last Week: 255,600 Last Year: 248,400
Regular Sale from Weston Livestock Market in West Virginia on February 20, 2010 Steers, 0 Head Heifers, 4 Head Weight M&L 1 400-500 85.00 500-600 93.00 600-700 84.00 700-800 75.00 Bulls, 11 Head Weight M&L 1 400-500 105.00 600-700 90.00-91.00 700-800 80.00-83.00 800-1000 76.00 Slaughter Cows, 21 Head Pct Lean Weight Range Hi Dress Avg. Dress Lo Dress Breakers 75-80 1450-1510 55.50 49.00-51.00 Boners 80-85 1150-1425 53.50-56.00 49.00-52.00 46.50 Lean 85-90 870-1190 47.00 44.50 43.50 Canner 90 870 33.50 Heiferettes, 4 Head 800-1000 lbs. 49.00-56.00 1000-1200 56.00 Baby Calves Returned to Farms, 3 Head Beef Dairy Newborn to 4 Weeks 185.00 95.00 Slaughter Hogs & Pigs, Barrows & Gilts, U.S. 1-3, 6 Head 200-250 lbs 50.00-57.00 300 & up 45.00 Slaughter & Feeder Lambs Feeders, S & M 1-2, 4 Head 75-90 lbs. 119.00 Goats, 16 Head Selection 1 Selection 2 Kids,60-80 147.00-162.00 Sl. Small Nannies 87.50Buckhannon Stockyards Buckhannon WV - Weighted Average Report for Thursday Feb 25, 2010 Cattle Receipts: 42 Last week: Last year: Slaughter cows made up 64% of the offering, slaughter bulls 7%, replacement cows 2%, and feeders 26%. The feeder supply included 36% steers, 18% heifers, and 45% bulls. Near 36% of the run weighed over 600 lbs. Feeder Steers Holstein Medium and Large 2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 4 490-490 490 58.00 58.00 Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 2 470-470 470 72.00 72.00 Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 550-550 550 93.00 93.00 3 650-685 663 87.00-88.00 87.33 1 700-700 700 86.00 86.00 Bred Cows Medium and Large 1 - 2 Young Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 1200-1200 1200 675.00 675.00 Per Head 7-9 Months Bred Slaughter Cows Breaker 70-80% Lean Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 1375-1375 1375 49.50 49.50 3 1215-1245 1230 51.00-53.50 52.33 High Dressing 1 1525-1525 1525 51.00 51.00 4 1505-1585 1553 53.75-55.00 54.06 High Dressing Boner 80-85% Lean 9 995-1380 1225 43.50-49.50 45.57 3 1145-1350 1258 49.75-52.75 51.20 High Dressing 3 1005-1130 1082 40.50-42.25 41.45 Low Dressing 1 1480-1480 1480 50.25 50.25 High Dressing Lean 85-90% Lean 2 950-1320 1135 35.00-36.00 35.58 Slaughter Bulls Yield Grade 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 2070-2070 2070 62.75 62.75 1 1630-1630 1630 67.00 67.00 High Dressing 1 1585-1585 1585 57.25 57.25 Low Dressing