Calf prices higher as spring demand stays steady
Winter storms did slow some cattle movement, especially slaughter cows. Prices were either side of steady for yearlings, but higher for both calf prices and slaughter cows.
Feeder cattle numbers came in about the same as last week with 23,300 head at test auctions, this was just a little lower than last year because of the recent snows again. Calf prices were mostly $4-7 higher with good demand for the upcoming grazing season. Yearling prices were either side of steady from $2 lower to $2 higher. However, some auctions that had storms and lower numbers did not have a good test on all of the weight groups.
Snow storms in some areas continued to keep the slaughter cow numbers lower. There was 5,600 head at the twenty test auctions from Pennsylvania through Montana and the Southern Plains, which was up only 200 head from the previous week. The prices continued to climb higher at most auctions and were mostly $1-4 higher even though the cow cutout was lower on Wednesday compared to the previous Wednesday.
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