NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY — WEEK ENDING 04/05/2025

By USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News

RECEIPTS:    Auctions       Direct    Video/Internet      Total
This Week:    152,900       27,500        52,300         232,700   
Last Week:    203,500       23,700         2,900         230,100
Year Ago:     157,600       22,000        58,500         238,100 

Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold uneven; 1.00 lower to 4.00 higher nationwide on moderate to very good demand depending on early week or late week sales.

A winter storm in the North Plains curtailed receipts somewhat as some auctions canceled sales. A large storm system moved across the region bringing rain and snow, which made it difficult to haul cattle and some auction markets cancelled their sales because of it, other auction markets had much lighter receipts. Much larger auction receipts expected this next week in the North Plains as auction markets get back to their regular sale schedules.

Extremely heavy rains and severe weather from Arkansas, Missouri through Kentucky and Tennessee resulted in a lot of water and flooding in the south central and southeast portions of the state. Other areas may have been spared from the excessive rains but still got enough to make standing water common in many fields, limiting field work for farmers ready to get corn planted.

There was pressure in the ag market as outside market influences cratered the futures markets on Thursday and Friday. Limit lower Feeder Cattle for deferred contracts on Friday left the May contract over 10.000 lower for the week. Most Live Cattle contracts were over 6.00 lower for the week.

Cattle feeders remain very bullish but with the futures under so much pressure it carried over into the cash market. Packers appeared to be wanting cattle as the feedlot trade held firm late in the week when those huge sell offs prevailed on the cattle boards.

Negotiated sales of slaughter steers and heifers in the Southern Plains sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower 208. In Nebraska, live sales were steady to 3.00 lower at 210.00 to 213.00, while dressed sales sold steady to 10.00 lower at mostly 335.00.

For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 338.37, 5.55 higher and Select closed at 317.84, 0.84 lower.

Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 591K, 18K less than last week and 23K less than a year ago.

Auction volume this week included 50% weighing over 600 lbs and 45% heifers.