Hulett: Cash Inches Higher
Cash cattle trade looked to be a repeat of the last several weeks. On Wednesday packers in the South were back out bidding $124 with many feeders taking that price and getting show lists cleaned up. By the end of the week some packers were up to $124.50. It was not a huge increase, but it is a sign that the number of front-end cattle available is becoming shorter.
The North also saw a steady-to-higher trade. Dressed cattle were mostly steady at $196 with cash cattle trading from $124 to $126. Feeders in the North are also beginning to see some shorting of numbers on their show lists.
This week should see packers having to push harder to find front-end cattle to fill their needs. Feeders have already seen packers begin to shift what they are willing to buy to try to fill their needs. Cattle feeders may finally be in situation they have not seen in quite some time as we begin the trade this week.
Brad Hulett is Director, Customer Development & Regional Manager, Kansas, at Consolidated Beef Producers, Inc.
