Feeder cattle, slaughter cow volume higher during fall fun

Feeder cattle numbers continue to increase in volume which is typical in the fall. Prices were mostly $1-3 higher on the yearlings, but the calves were steady to weak with much larger numbers of unweaned, fleshy calves that always bring less than the thinner weaned calves.

There was a typical bigger fall run of cows with 8,000 head at the test auctions, which was up about 2,000 head from the previous week. The prices were steady to $2 lower, dropping more later in the week on the heels of declining cow meat prices, also normal in the fall.