Compared to last Thursday, Stocker and feeder cattle steady to firm in a light test. Feeder cattle futures closed the Thursday session with 52 to 80 cent losses, save for the Jan contract which was 67 cents higher. The Jan to March spread is still $1, with another $2.77 premium to April. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was $160.96 on 12/6, up by 53 cents. Slaughter cows and bulls steady to firm with the best demand for feeding and grass fed cows. Trade active with good demand. Buyer attendance was good. The quarterly beef production was raised 10m lbs for Q4 2021 in USDA’s WASDE report. That left the total at 7.065 billion lbs and the year’s total at 27.895 billion. The 2022 production estimate was UNCH at 27b lbs. USDA reported beef export sales were 4,234 MT during the week that ended 12/2. That was down from 21k last week and from 13.7k MT during the same week last year. Accumulated beef commitments were 1.047 MMT.
| Frame / muscle | Avg wt | $/cwt | $/head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium and Large 1-2 | 486 | 176.37 | 857 | 145 |
| Small and Medium 1-2 | 539 | 158.50 | 854 | 6thin |
| Large 1 | 736 | 132.46 | 975 | 23 |
| Large 1-2 | 909 | 126.03 | 1,145 | 40 |
| Class | Grade | Dressing | Avg wt | $/cwt | $/head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls | — | Average | 1,966 | 82.66 | 1,625 | 15 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | Very Low | 1,541 | 60.04 | 925 | 462 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | Very Low | 1,403 | 57.04 | 800 | 423 |
| Class | Weight | Grade / description | Avg wt | Price | Range | Per head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feeder Cattle · Steers14 lots · lightest first | |||||||
| Steers | — | Small and Medium 3-4 | 286 | 335.00/cwt | 335.00–335.00 | 958 | 8 |
| Steers | — | Medium and Large 1-2 | 385 | 190.00/cwt | 190.00–190.00 | 732 | 12 |
| Steers | — | Small and Medium 3-4 | 396 | 425.00/cwt | 425.00–425.00 | 1,683 | 8 |
| Steers | — | Medium and Large 1-2 | 462 | 180.00/cwt | 180.00–180.00 | 832 | 65 |
| Steers | — | Medium and Large 1-2 | 527 | 170.50/cwt | 170.50–170.50 | 899 | 68 |
| Steers | — | Small and Medium 1-2 | 539 | 158.50/cwt | 158.50–158.50 | 854 | 6 |
| Steers | — | Large 1Full | 608 | 124.00/cwt | 124.00–124.00 | 754 | 6 |
| Steers | — | Large 1-2 | 710 | 126.00/cwt | 126.00–126.00 | 895 | 5 |
| Steers | — | Large 1 | 724 | 135.50/cwt | 135.50–135.50 | 981 | 5 |
| Steers | — | Large 1 | 761 | 137.50/cwt | 137.50–137.50 | 1,046 | 7 |
| Steers | — | Large 1-2 | 779 | 123.00/cwt | 123.00–123.00 | 958 | 9 |
| Steers | — | Large 1 | 867 | 132.50/cwt | 132.50–132.50 | 1,149 | 5 |
| Steers | — | Large 1-2 | 980 | 128.00/cwt | 128.00–128.00 | 1,254 | 18 |
| Steers | — | Large 1-2 | 1,018 | 125.00/cwt | 125.00–125.00 | 1,273 | 8 |
| Feeder Cattle · Heifers13 lots · lightest first | |||||||
| Heifers | — | Small and Medium 3-4 | 187 | 140.00/cwt | 140.00–140.00 | 262 | 7 |
| Heifers | — | Small and Medium 3-4 | 273 | 260.00/cwt | 260.00–260.00 | 710 | 8 |
| Heifers | — | Medium and Large 1-2 | 380 | 145.00/cwt | 145.00–145.00 | 551 | 16 |
| Heifers | — | Medium and Large 1-2 | 444 | 141.94/cwt | 135.00–142.50 | 630 | 61 |
| Heifers | — | Medium and Large 1-2 | 504 | 148.60/cwt | 148.60–148.60 | 749 | 61 |
| Heifers | — | Small and Medium 3-4 | 505 | 200.00/cwt | 200.00–200.00 | 1,010 | 6 |
| Heifers | — | Small and Medium 2-3 | 514 | 109.00/cwt | 109.00–109.00 | 560 | 10 |
| Heifers | — | Small and Medium 1-2 | 518 | 131.00/cwt | 131.00–131.00 | 679 | 5 |
| Heifers | — | Medium and Large 1-2 | 567 | 140.00/cwt | 140.00–140.00 | 794 | 22 |
| Heifers | — | Small and Medium 2-3 | 616 | 114.00/cwt | 114.00–114.00 | 702 | 9 |
| Heifers | — | Large 1 | 705 | 130.50/cwt | 130.50–130.50 | 920 | 5 |
| Heifers | — | Large 1 | 886 | 105.00/cwt | 105.00–105.00 | 930 | 5 |
| Heifers | — | Large 1Fleshy | 1,087 | 115.50/cwt | 115.50–115.50 | 1,255 | 6 |
| Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first | |||||||
| Bulls | — | — | 1,945 | 88.21/cwt | 87.50–89.00 | 1,716 | 2 |
| Bulls | — | — | 1,969 | 81.81/cwt | 77.00–85.00 | 1,611 | 13 |
| Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first | |||||||
| Cows | — | Lean 85-90%Light Weight | 1,017 | 39.75/cwt | 35.00–43.00 | 404 | 29 |
| Cows | — | Boner 80-85%Light Weight | 1,109 | 44.36/cwt | 42.00–46.00 | 492 | 11 |
| Cows | — | Lean 85-90% | 1,400 | 63.00/cwt | 63.00–63.00 | 882 | 4 |
| Cows | — | Lean 85-90% | 1,405 | 55.92/cwt | 53.00–58.00 | 786 | 185 |
| Cows | — | Lean 85-90% | 1,456 | 60.39/cwt | 58.00–62.00 | 879 | 205 |
| Cows | — | Boner 80-85%Certified Prgms | 1,461 | 71.54/cwt | 65.50–75.00 | 1,045 | 31 |
| Cows | — | Boner 80-85% | 1,507 | 57.06/cwt | 54.00–59.00 | 860 | 205 |
| Cows | — | Boner 80-85% | 1,607 | 62.02/cwt | 59.00–64.00 | 997 | 215 |
| Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first | |||||||
| Bred Cows | — | Small and Medium 4 | 1,021 | 575.00/cwt | 575.00–575.00 | 5,871 | 5 |
Compared to last Thursday, Stocker and feeder cattle steady to firm in a light test. Feeder cattle futures closed the Thursday session with 52 to 80 cent losses, save for the Jan contract which was 67 cents higher. The Jan to March spread is still $1, with another $2.77 premium to April. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was $160.96 on 12/6, up by 53 cents. Slaughter cows and bulls steady to firm with the best demand for feeding and grass fed cows. Trade active with good demand. Buyer attendance was good. The quarterly beef production was raised 10m lbs for Q4 2021 in USDA’s WASDE report. That left the total at 7.065 billion lbs and the year’s total at 27.895 billion. The 2022 production estimate was UNCH at 27b lbs. USDA reported beef export sales were 4,234 MT during the week that ended 12/2. That was down from 21k last week and from 13.7k MT during the same week last year. Accumulated beef commitments were 1.047 MMT.
| Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | — | 1,087 | 115.50 | 115.50 |
| Heifers — Small and Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | — | 518 | 131.00 | 131.00 |
| Heifers — Small and Medium 3-4$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | — | 187 | 140.00 | 140.00 |
| 6 | — | 505 | 200.00 | 200.00 |
| 8 | — | 273 | 260.00 | 260.00 |
| Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | — | 705 | 130.50 | 130.50 |
| 5 | — | 886 | 105.00 | 105.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | — | 380 | 145.00 | 145.00 |
| 61 | — | 444 | 135.00–142.50 | 141.94 |
| 61 | — | 504 | 148.60 | 148.60 |
| 22 | — | 567 | 140.00 | 140.00 |
| Heifers — Small and Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | — | 616 | 114.00 | 114.00 |
| 10 | — | 514 | 109.00 | 109.00 |
| Steers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | — | 608 | 124.00 | 124.00 |
| Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | — | 779 | 123.00 | 123.00 |
| 8 | — | 1,018 | 125.00 | 125.00 |
| 18 | — | 980 | 128.00 | 128.00 |
| 5 | — | 710 | 126.00 | 126.00 |
| Steers — Small and Medium 3-4$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | — | 396 | 425.00 | 425.00 |
| 8 | — | 286 | 335.00 | 335.00 |
| Steers — Small and Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | — | 539 | 158.50 | 158.50 |
| Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | — | 761 | 137.50 | 137.50 |
| 5 | — | 867 | 132.50 | 132.50 |
| 5 | — | 724 | 135.50 | 135.50 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | — | 462 | 180.00 | 180.00 |
| 68 | — | 527 | 170.50 | 170.50 |
| 12 | — | 385 | 190.00 | 190.00 |
| Bred Cows — Small and Medium 4$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||||
| Age | Stage | Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs) | 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) | 5 | — | 1,021 | 575.00 | 575.00 |
| Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | — | 1,969 | 77.00–85.00 | 81.81 |
| 2 | — | 1,945 | 87.50–89.00 | 88.21 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | — | 1,109 | 42.00–46.00 | 44.36 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | — | 1,017 | 35.00–43.00 | 39.75 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85% · Certified Prgms$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | — | 1,461 | 65.50–75.00 | 71.54 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215 | — | 1,607 | 59.00–64.00 | 62.02 |
| 205 | — | 1,507 | 54.00–59.00 | 57.06 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | — | 1,456 | 58.00–62.00 | 60.39 |
| 4 | — | 1,400 | 63.00 | 63.00 |
| 185 | — | 1,405 | 53.00–58.00 | 55.92 |