Natchitoches, LA, March 30-31
Superior Livestock Auction hosted their Gulf Coast Classic video auction live from the Natchitoches Event Center in Natchitoches, LA. Cattle producers offered over 76,380 head of calves, yearlings and bred stock from 26 states for this auction. Cattle were sold on contract to deliver immediately through December 2023.
Feeder steers of all regions showed very aggressive buyer demand on all classes and weights. Deferred deliveries lead the way at levels $5-7 higher, with select weights and deliveries as much as $12 higher. Program steers were much more even all the way through, with strong demand at levels $15-25 higher than conventional cattle.
Feeder heifers of all regions were in strong demand, moving out at $7-10 higher. Program heifers also saw advances of $12-18 higher than conventional heifers. Region 1 and 2 weaned calves were in short supply, but also sold on a higher note. Beef-dairy crosses were $15-20 higher, with the strong-genetic base calves carrying the higher end of the market.
Southeastern calves from Florida were greeted with a very strong market.
This being Superior’s first big offering of calves in 2023 was no surprise given the road map ahead. A $172 live cattle market fueled a weaned calf market $40-60 higher than last year’s same offering.
Louisiana weaned calves and calves on cows followed suit, marking prices on 500-550 lbs. at $230-260 and 550-650 lbs. in a range from $200-260, depending on delivery window and location. Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico calves were also in strong demand, with most advances on grazing condition calves marking prices $15-25 higher than the last auction.
