Feeders in the South saw a cash market that was much like the week before. Cash cattle traded $138-$140. Cattle feeders did see a larger cleanup than what they had seen in weeks past. This was mainly due to having three packers in the market all trying to buy large numbers of cattle.
The North saw their market run a little higher than the south. The cash market in the North was mostly $140-$144 with dressed cattle ranging $224-$226. Packers continue to push hard in the eastern side of this region to get cattle bought. Cattle feeders in this region seem to be in the driver’s seat of this market.
This next week should be interesting to see how the market plays out. Cattle feeders have good reason to think that this market has room to run, but the board was trying to send a different signal at the end of last week. We will know shortly which one plays out.
Brad Hulett is Director, Customer Development & Regional Manager, Kansas, at Consolidated Beef Producers , Inc.
