NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 04/12/2025
By USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 122,400 23,000 32,700 177,700
Last Week: 152,900 27,500 52,300 232,700
Year Ago: 167,600 32,300 7,200 207,100
Compared to last week, steers and heifers in the North Central and Southeast sold 2.00 to 6.00 lower while those in the Sought Central area sold 7.00 to 12.00 lower.
Demand was moderate to good on a light to moderate supply. Markets cautiously opened this week with volatile futures markets until mid- week when the futures turned into green territory on outside market influences. Cattle producers have been trying to tune out any negativity coming from the futures complex and instead focus on the bullish market fundamentals.
Feeder cattle futures closed out the week 2.62 to 5.75 higher, counteracting the days that closed in the red and recouping less than half of the previous week losses.
Quite a few sale barns in many areas noted lighter-than-normal supply partially due to the uncertainty in the markets.
Drought conditions prevail across the Plains states, and some cattlemen are not really seeking to add more inventory to their operations. Pasture and range conditions look tough for this time of year and it's hard to flourish without significant moisture when the wind just doesn't seem to stop blowing.
The first weekly crop progress report for the year was released last week. There's no doubt that plenty of headway has been made in the past week. The planters have been rolling and farmers are getting seed into the ground. Fertilizer buggies and spreader trucks have been hard at work spreading on pastures, too. Grass has been greening up and the warmer weather has encouraged lush growth.
Very limited negotiated sales of slaughter steers and heifers in the Southern Plains sold 4.00 lower at 204.00.
In Nebraska, live sales were 4.00 to 5.00 lower at 208.00, while dressed sales sold 7.00 to 8.00 lower at 327.00 to 328.00.
For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 334.22, 4.15 lower and Select closed at 313.96, 3.88 lower.
Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 564K, 27K less than last week and 34K less than a year ago.
Auction volume this week included 50% weighing over 600 lbs and 46% heifers.
