Tuesday January 6, 2015 Fat Cattle Sale

1st sale of 2015 came in with a bang as slaughter steers & heifers both topped at 174.50.  Higher futures, higher beef trade and the packers willingness to accumulate some numbers after their pipeline had cleaned up during the holidays!  Cow trade was active with most still bringing 105.00 & up.

Tonight's cow sale offered 17 pairs and 329 bred cows and was very well attended considering several inches of new snow is on the ground and a couple of days of bitter weather are on the way.  Several needing cows came as spectators only refusing to bid.  But, the demand for everything was still very good.  Older cows brought up to $250 per head over slaughter price.  Younger, 3rd period cows brought up to $3000, and bred heifers brought up to $3000 if they had size.  Smaller heifers, 1,000# and under brought less of course, the weather was a big factor in tonight's sale.

Cow/calf pairs averaged $2520 with a $3200 top.

Bred heifers - 1000#+ 3rd period ranged from $2500 to $3000.  Smaller heifers & later calving brought less.

Young black cows - 3rd period with size and eye appeal ranged from $2500 to 43000.

Older cows 3rd period with size brought $150 to $300 above slaughter price.

Slaughter Steers 96 head    
Choice 2-4 168.50-171.50    
   High Yielding 172.50-174.50    
   Low Yielding 165.50-168.00    
Mixed Select/Choice 2-3 163.00-167.00    
Select 1-2 164.50/down    
       
       
Slaughter Heifers 56 head    
Choice 2-4 168.50-172.00    
   High Yielding 172.50-174.50    
   Low Yielding 165.50-167.50    
Mixed Select/Choice 2-3 163.00-166.00    
Select 1-2 162.00/down    
       
Cull Cows-117 head High Yield Avg. Yield Low Yield
Premium Whites 150.00-158.00    
Breakers 1300-1800# 112.00-117.00 108.00-110.50 107.00/down
Boners 1200-1600# 114.00-120.50 110.00-112.50 108.50/down
Lean 1000-1400# 113.50-119.50 101.00-108.50 100.00/down
       
Slaughter Bulls High Yield Avg. Yield Low Yield
 13 head 130.00-134.00 123.00-127.50 119.00/down