NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 04/19/2025
By USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 168,300 32,000 52,100 252,400
Last Week: 122,400 23,000 32,700 178,100
Year Ago: 167,700 44,900 70,900 283,500
Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold 5.00 to 10.00 higher with instances in the South-Central area of up to 13.00 higher.
Demand was good to very good for all types of cattle this week as buyers worked to fill the green grass pastures with calves or even yearling that could go multiple ways. In addition, some are still trying to purchase replacement heifers so they can take advantage of the handsome bred cattle market projected in the fall.
Auctions barns shook off the uncertainty and volatility of the prior week and seemed to forget about factors outside of the fundamental factors directly related to supply and demand of cattle.
The supply of feeders was moderate with many yearlings being offered at various auctions this week as well as plenty of calves, which is typical for this time of year. It didn't matter to the buyers on the fall calves. If they were weaned or bawlers, just getting possession of lightweight cattle was their main goal.
The CME Cattle Complex has rebounded from losses in the first week of the month and closed the week even higher than April 1. The monthly cattle on feed report was released a day early this month due to Good Friday.
Overall, on the surface the report was mostly neutral to perhaps an ever so slight touch bearishness but looking at the bigger picture of total numbers and several months of reports nothing negative to be found at this point. On feed was published at 98 pct, placements at 105 pct and marketings at 101 pct of a year ago. Being a quarterly report the breakdown of steers and heifers on feed was included and published with a percentage of 62:38 which still does not support any major retention or growth in breeding stock at this point.
Cattle feeders were given a dose of optimism this week as they were able to sell their market ready fat cattle higher. Negotiated sales of fed cattle in the Southern Plains sold 4.00 to 6.00 higher at 208.00 to mostly 210.00. In Nebraska, live sales were 4.00 to 6.00 higher at 212.00 to 214.00, while dressed sales sold 5.00 to 12.00 higher at 332.00 to 340.00. For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 331.52, 2.70 lower and Select closed at 315.55, 1.59 higher.
Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 576K, 13K more than last week and 42K less than a year ago.
Year to date cattle slaughter is now 530K behind a year ago at this point in time and when compared to 2023, it would be over 1,000,000 head less.
Auction volume this week included 49% weighing over 600 lbs and 43% heifers.
