Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated.

NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

St. Joseph, Mo.

March 1

This week Last week Last year

217,800 225,500 356,200

Compared to Feb. 22, feeder cattle and calf markets were not fully tested due to the second severe winter storm to hit many areas of the Southern Plains and the Midwest in less than a week. Direct trade and auction sales in the unaffected areas of the Northern Plains were steady to $3 lower, but some firmness was noted late in the week following the sharply higher fed cattle trade and the passing of the storm. Southeastern calf markets were weak to $8 lower with Western interests unable to take delivery and many major arteries closed due to the weather. The Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma were probably the hardest hit with high winds and up to 20 inches of snow building mountainous drifts and allowing cattle to simply walk over fences.

The storm then pummeled Kansas and Missouri again with many auction markets forced to close or operate under extremely reduced receipts and sharply lower market undertones. There were reports of significant death loss on lightweight cattle that were not yet acclimated but most feedlots reportedly weathered the storms fairly well.

Both storms covered some of the most drought ravaged areas in the United States and the moisture was welcomed despite the crippling conditions they caused. The lack of cattle movement over the past two weeks and the shear limited availability of feeders have put dwindling nationwide auction receipts 21 percent behind year ago levels.

Fed cattle trade was brisk late in the week with live sales $3-6 higher from $127-129 and dressed sales from $202-204. Slower harvest rates and the hint of an early spring rally boosted boxed beef cut-out values and returned optimism to the beef arena. The economy is still struggling and there is much uncertainty about the sequestration cuts, but the stock market has been soaring near all-time record highs. Warmer weather should spur demand for both stockers and feeders with newfound interest in early grazing and the need for heavily populated areas to find their way back to restaurants and patio grills. The limited reported auction volume included 59 percent over 600 lbs. and 44 percent heifers.

AUCTIONS

This week Last week Last year

132,700 168,500 247,500

WASHINGTON 3,700. 69 pct over 600 lbs. 58 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 450-500 lbs. $175.72; 500-550 lbs. $165.04; 550-600 lbs. $159.45; 600-650 lbs. $143.65; thin 600-650 lbs. $148.80; 650-700 lbs. $139.67; 700-750 lbs. $137.41; 750-800 lbs. $131.64; 800-850 lbs. $127.39; 850-900 lbs. $125. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 450-500 lbs. $156.59; 500-550 lbs. $145.74; 550-600 lbs. $140.98; 600-650 lbs. $136.16; 650-700 lbs. $135.87; replacement 650-700 lbs. $143.53; replacement 700-750 lbs. $139.48; 750-800 lbs. $120.54; replacement 750-800 lbs. $129.93.

DIRECT

This week Last week Last year

47,600 54,200 69,800

SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) 2,100. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Holsteins: Large 3 June 300 lbs. $138-145 del.; Current 325 lbs. $128 del.; 400 lbs. $115 del.

NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho) 900. 71 pct over 600 lbs. 24 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB Price 750 lbs. $125 Oregon; 850-900 lbs. $126 Washington; Current Delivered Price 750 lbs. $132 Idaho. Holsteins: Large 2-3 Current FOB Price 300-350 lbs. $110-112 Washington. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB Price 700-750 lbs. $120 Oregon; Current Delivered Price 750-800 lbs. $126 Idaho.

NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE

(USDA Market News)

Moses Lake, Wash.

March 1

This week Last week Last year

850 1,700 3,650

Compared to Feb. 22, feeder cattle $2-6 lower in a light test. Not enough stocker cattle reported this week for accurate trends. Trade near standstill. Demand light as most feedlots remain full and keep getting backed up. The feeder supply included 76 percent steers and 24 percent heifers. Near 71 percent of the supply weighed over 600 lbs. Prices are FOB weighing point with a 1-4 percent shrink or equivalent and with a 5-10 cent slide on calves and a 3-6 cent slide on yearlings.

Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 750 lbs. $125 Oregon; 850-900 lbs. $126 Washington. Current Delivered Price: 750 lbs. $132 Idaho.

Holstein Steers: Large 2-3: Current FOB Price: 300-350 lbs. $110-112 Washington.

Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 700-750 lbs. $120 Oregon. Current Delivered Price: 750-800 lbs. $126 Idaho.

NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

Oklahoma City-Des Moines

March 1

Compared to Feb. 22: Slaughter cattle sold $4-5 higher on a live basis. Dressed sales in Nebraska traded $8 higher. Packer demand good. Boxed beef prices March 1 averaged $186.37 up $4.83 from Feb. 22. The Choice/Select spread is at $2.24. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for negotiated cash trades through March 1 totaled about 64,440 head. The previous week’s total head count was 94,702.

Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-80 Percent Choice, 1200-1400 lbs. $127-129 Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers: $204.

South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-65 percent Choice, 1100-1400 lbs. $128-129.

Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding Prices): Slaughter cows steady to $2 higher. Slaughter Bulls $1 to $3 higher.

USDA’s Cutter cow carcass cut-out value March 1 was $167.50 up $.83 from Feb. 22.