Markets has the last good fall run for the year with 34,600 head of feeder cattle at test auctions, which was lower than last week but still higher than last year. Prices firmed up with active bidding particularly on the yearlings as feedlots were filling pens before the end of the year.
Slaughter cows had another good run, but it also was the last big run for this year with 9,900 head of cows at the twenty test auctions. Price were mostly steady to $1 higher, firming up as packers were building inventories for the next two weeks when most auctions will be shut down. However the thin lean dairy cows showed some weakness, because they really can not be kept long before slaughter and there have been big numbers of lean or cutter type cows everywhere lately.
