NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 03/22/2025
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 178,100 35,000 37,300 250,400
Last Week: 223,400 52,800 15,200 291,400
Year Ago: 196,400 42,200 53,100 291,700
Compared to last week, the bulk of all classes of feeder cattle sold mostly 5.00- 10.00 higher.
Many auctions traded in a wide price range this week steady to 10.00 higher, spots 15.00 higher as this market continues to find incredible strength each passing week.
Sales and prices across the country are getting to sound like tall tales as stick out sales are so numerous. Some of the bell ringers this week included Monday’s auction at Joplin regional Stockyards sold 367 hd of 550-600 lb steers averaging 572 lbs for a weighted average price of 367.03; Tuesday’s sale at Beaver Livestock Auction, Beaver, OK sold 1011 hd of 850-900 lb steers averaging 865 lbs sold for a weighted average price of 274.37; Tuesday in Aberdeen, SD at Hub City Livestock Auction sold 738 steers of 850-900 lb steers averaging 873 lbs for a weighted average price of 282.20; in Philip, SD on Tuesday at Philip Livestock auction sold near 400 hd of 700-750 lb steers averaging 715 lbs for a weighted average price of 335.92; Wednesday in Torrington, WY at Torrington Livestock sold 87 hd of 602 lb steers at 371.50 and Wednesday in Green Forest, Arkansas at North Arkansas Livestock auction sold 141 hd of steers weighing 799 lbs at 289.50.
Buyers continue to be very aggressive to buy cattle as overall short supplies, its grass time and regardless if its calves for grass or big yearlings for finishing the bullish attitude to own cattle keep growing a stronger set of legs. This week it was the same with the fed cattle market at mid-week a winter storm blew in across Kansas and Nebraska seeing snow and a whole lot of wind as there were plant closings in Nebraska slowing procurement and limiting movement as buyers held tight and paid off as late Friday morning cash fed cattle sales moved to all-time highs as prices in the Southern Plains were mainly 210.00 and in the Northern Plains live sales were mostly 214.00-215.00 with dressed sales at 335.00 all mostly 7.00-10.00 higher.
Cattle on Feed Report was released Friday afternoon and showed double digit declines (18 percent below a year ago) in Placements which was more than was estimated coming in at 82 percent with average estimates at 85.6 percent.
Boxed-beef prices jumped started this week getting and extra boost from some production loss at mid-week gaining 6.00 on Choice on Wednesday but closing on Friday 2.61 lower at 325.45 up 7.18 for the week with Select closing Friday .26 cents higher at 309.62 up 3.30 for the week.
Weekly Cattle Slaughter under Federal Inspection estimated at 560K, 24K less than a week ago, 33K less than a year ago.
Auction volume this week included 57 pct over 600 lbs and 43 pct heifers.
