The fed cattle trade last week was slow to get started as packers were looking at the expectation that beef prices were likely to drop after the Fourth of July holiday weekend. That kept the bulk of last week’s trade pending at midday last Thursday as feedlots held cattle back

A see-saw week in the fed cattle markets pushed off the bulk of trade last week until very late, with the majority of the action looking to be postponed until Friday. The early light sales in the Corn Belt and Nebraska were reported at $178-180 dressed while some live cattle trades were reported at $110-111 at midday last

Fed cattle trade was developing last Thursday in a full range of $107-109 live in the southern Plains. Northern trade, where volumes were still on the light side, was reported at $178 dressed at midday last Thursday. Those prices were $2-3 higher on the live cattle and dressed trade was $3 above the

Fed cattle trade was fully developed by late last Wednesday. For the week, trade reversed its recent slide and moved $1-2 higher on live cattle in the southern Plains where cattle traded in a range of $105-106. Dressed trade in the northern tier was reported at $172-175, a level which was $3-4 higher than the

Fed cattle traded steady last week after a hard sell-off in the futures markets pushed cattle feeders to the table to sell cattle last Wednesday. Live cattle in the southern Plains traded mostly steady to slightly firmer than the prior week at $104 while northern cattle feeders sold live

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has released 59,100 acres of the temporary preventative quarantine zone located in Starr County effective May 20. This release includes 141 premises. The temporary preventative quarantine will remain in effect for the remaining 93,615 acres located in both Starr and Hidalgo counties.

Holiday weekend sales will be a significant factor in market direction. Fed cattle prices slipped further last week with trade in the southern Plains reported at $104, with some instances of $104.25, down mostly $4 from the previous week. Dressed sales in the south came at $165, down as much as $7 from the week before. In

Last minute amendments to Texas House Bill 1451 (HB 1451), exempting shepherd and herding dogs, and hunting and birding dogs, gave the states ranchers and sportsmen a chance to catch their breath after months of contacting their state officials with their oppositions to the bill.

Fed cattle traded sharply lower again last week with trade in the southern Plains reported at $108 live and $172 dressed, prices which were down $4 from the prior week’s sales. In the North, live cattle traded at $109 live and $175-176 dressed, which was $8-9 lower than the prior week levels. Continued liquidation of contract positions by hedge

Light fed cattle trade had developed by midday last Thursday with reports of $112 live trade in Kansas, with Texas and Oklahoma feed yards expected to follow at similar prices. Dressed trade in the North was also light with an expected range of $181-185 when full trade finally developed last week. Prices for the