NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 04/26/202

By USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News

RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 154,100 22,900 15,900 192,900
Last Week: 168,300 32,000 52,100 252,400
Year Ago: 165,000 68,200 11,300 244,500

Compared to last week, steers and heifers in the North Central area sold 6.00 to 10.00 higher, while those in other areas sold 1.00 to 5.00 higher.

Demand was good to very good on light to moderate auction receipts this week.

As the calendar turns to May, heavy rains in some areas once again limited auction volume and auctions in the North Central area already moving to auctions every other week, some limiting of auction numbers will be at the forefront of the market in the coming months.

Many stocker calves during this time of the year would be calves coming directly off the cows and buyers were still willing to gobble up those offerings at handsome prices as those prices hover around record breaking levels.

There is an abundance of moisture in some areas of the country as some areas have received over 5 inches of rain recently. The latest drought monitor is showing a significant improvement with just over 40 pct of the country not in a drought, the first time since August 2024 and with several rain occurrences happening nationwide, there will be more areas with grass eager for more sunshine and warmer weather. With more grass growth and improving pasture conditions, producers will consider keeping more heifers back for replacements.

Planting has been slow due to rains which seem to be spaced just right to prevent many fields from drying enough to get over. As of the start of last week 12% of corn and 8% of beans had been planted.

Continued optimism is in the livestock sector as cash fed cattle register record level prices and futures prices for feeder cattle top 290.00 and on the way to 300.00.

The Live Cattle futures contracts have been at a discounted level to the cash markets for so long in the northern plains, now with the summer months coming and those contract months are 204.00 to 208.00, there is great hope that the basis will stay positive. The current cash market is now 15.00 to 20.00 higher than where the April contract was all winter long. The cattle bought during the winter look to make so much more money than what was projected at the time they were placed.

The feeder cattle market continues to rise to levels that many thought weren't possible. We are now entering the time of year where feeder cattle supplies become limited, and cattle feeders want to get cattle bought now.

Negotiated sales of fed cattle in Kansas sold steady to 3.00 higher at 210.00 to mostly 213.00. In TX/OK/NM, live sales sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher at 212.00. In Nebraska, live sales were 4.00 to 6.00 higher at 218.00, while dressed sales sold 3.00 to 8.00 higher at 340.00 to 343.00.

For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 336.48, 4.96 higher and Select closed at 320.11, 4.56 higher.

Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 555K, 21K less than last week and 59K less than a year ago.

Auction volume this week included 55% weighing over 600 lbs and 42% heifers.