NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 05/23/2025
By USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 170,100 33,000 13,300 216,400
Last Week: 170,800 37,200 28,100 236,100
Year Ago: 153,000 54,300 10,100 217,400
Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold 1.00 to 7.00 lower. Demand was moderate to good on light to moderate supply.
Auction runs are becoming more sporadic now (especially in the Northern Plains) as we enter the summer marketing season.
Good rains across the Midwest and Plains states have greatly improved the outlook for a full grazing season, another positive for the feeder cattle market as yearling operators want light fleshed cattle to turn out on grass.
Several producers came to town this week feeling market tops might have now been made and given the holiday week with many barns taking the week off, it was time to turn them loose. With the recent active market many fall calf producers are selling bawlers instead of weaning them.
Cattle feeders' outgoing fed cattle are very profitable, and they want to refill their pens while the cattle are available.
The strength of the fat market is keeping a fire lit under the feeder cattle market and helping to advance the futures contracts.
Over the last 7 weeks, summer Feeder futures are over 20.00 higher as the steady runup after the sharp decline at the beginning of April.
On Friday, the Cattle on Feed report published On Feed number at 98 pct; placements at 97 pct; and marketings at 97 pct of a year ago. Most saw the report as mostly neutral as actuals came in close to industry guesses. Also on Friday, the cold storage report conveyed total red meat supplies in freezers were up 5 percent from the previous month but down 6% from last year.
Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 2% from the previous month and down 2% from last year.
Negotiated sales of fed cattle in Kansas sold steady to 1.00 higher at 220.00 to 221.00. In TX/OK/NM, live sales sold mostly steady at 220.00 to 221.00, mostly 220.00. In Nebraska, live sales were 1.00 to 2.00 higher at 230.00 to 231.00, while dressed sales sold mostly 2.00 higher at 360.00 to 370.00, mostly 360.00.
For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 361.55, 9.06 higher and Select closed at 351.32, 8.93 higher.
Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 570K, 4K more than last week and 33K less than a year ago.
Auction volume this week included 52% weighing over 600 lbs and 42% heifers.
