OKC Stockyards: Calf market under pressure as receipts swell The Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City reported receipts of 9,381 head, up sharply from 6,173 two weeks ago
but still trailing last year’s 10,154. Market trends were
mixed. Feeder steers and heifers held mostly steady
to $4 lower, with demand
described as moderate to good. Steer calves were steady, but heifer calves saw declines of $2–$6. Unweaned calves struggled, selling up to $20 lower as buyers discounted the extra risk. Mid-weight feeders in the 566–596 pound range drew prices from $394– $449 on steers and $345– $385 on heifers, reflecting the overall softening in calf trade. The breadth of receipts indicates strong cattle movement post-Labor Day, but pressure on younger calves shows buyer caution.
Oklahoma direct feeder trade: stronger tone as demand firms
Oklahoma’s direct feeder cattle market saw receipts
of 1,563 head, down from
2,113 the prior week. Prices, however, moved higher.
Feeder steers gained $4–$6, while 650-pound heifers surged $13 higher. Steers weighing 750 pounds brought $379.50, while 800-pound steers settled at $364.50. Heifers at 750–760 pounds averaged $342.80.
Demand was called “good,” signaling buyers are looking
to fill feedlot pens even
as overall volume trends downward. The combination of stronger prices on thinner receipts suggests optimism in the fed cattle outlook and
confidence in beef demand heading into fall.
Grain markets: wheat stalls, corn and milo steady
Cash grain bids across Oklahoma reflected a holding pattern. Wheat
traded mostly in the $4.20– $4.35 range, little changed across locations from Alva to Weatherford. Gulf export
wheat settled at $6.10¼.
Corn held near $3.25– $3.90 depending on basis points, while milo (grain sorghum) generally fetched $3.10–$3.65. Soybeans were strongest at $9.61 in several northern locations.
The flat tone underscores
lingering harvest pressure and cautious global demand.
Export strength in soybeans provided one bright spot, while wheat continued to labor under heavy supplies.
Cotton: quiet but steady in southwestern Oklahoma
Spot cotton quotations in southwestern Oklahoma drifted little during the week.
Grade 41, Leaf 4, Staple 34 cotton averaged around 60.40 cents per pound,
with only fractional day-today changes. Friday’s low of 60.14 cents rebounded slightly to 60.40 by Tuesday. The market is reflecting national trends: relatively quiet trade ahead of fall harvest, with global cotton demand uncertain.
Feedstus: mixed moves with wheat midds surging Protein and by-product feeds delivered out of Kansas City showed notable shifts. Soybean meal firmed $6.90–$23.80 higher, trading between $279.40– $310 per ton. Soybean hull pellets climbed to $125– $140, up as much as $15.
Wheat middlings were the outlier: truck-delivered prices rose $10 to $90–$110, while rail-delivered jumped $22–$25 to $65–$72. Corn gluten feed pellets gained $2 to $186. Cottonseed meal and dehydrated alfalfa were steady. The surge in wheat midds highlights tightening supply and renewed interest in high-energy byproducts as cattle feeders eye ration adjustments.
Southern Plains fed cattle: steady at $242–$243 The southern plains fat cattle trade closed the week at $242–$243 per hundredweight. Volumes were moderate. The flat trend highlights packers’ cautious buying pace even as feedlots hold leverage with limited show lists.
Prices remain historically strong, pointing to resilient consumer beef demand despite seasonal headwinds.
Tulsa Livestock Auction: buyers push steer prices sharply higher Receipts at the Tulsa Livestock Auction reached 3,934 head, up from 2,882 at the last sale and slightly ahead of last year’s 3,732.
Demand was strong across the board. Steer prices surged $15–$20 higher compared to two weeks ago, with conservative reporting suggesting the jump could have been even more significant. Heifers held steady to $5 higher. Market tone emphasized quality over everything else, with buyers showing little concern over whether cattle were weaned.
Oerings ranged from plain to attractive, but the higher end of the quality spectrum drove aggressive bidding.
Steers in the 269–344 pound range routinely topped $600 per hundredweight, while 400–441 pound lots brought $519–$557.50.
Larger feeders in the 653– 686 pound class averaged $411.92. The sharp price movement underscores the regional demand for feeders, boosted by feedlots willing to pay up for higher-quality cattle.
Pawnee Sale Barn sheep and goat auction: mixed market with stronger lambs, softer nannies
At the Aug. 22 Pawnee Sale Barn, receipts totaled 769 head, down from 1,206 at the last report. Compared to that earlier sale, slaughter lambs sold $10–$20 higher, showing clear strength in buyer demand. Slaughter ewes slipped $1–$3 lower, and slaughter kid goats eased $2–$3 lower. Feeder kid goats, however, found firmer footing, trading $5–$10 higher. Slaughter nannies were only lightly tested but sold sharply lower, down $15–$20. Demand overall was described as moderate to good. In the goat pens, 33–38 pound feeder kids brought $329–$395 per hundredweight, averaging $385.76, while 41–47 pound kids averaged $296.24. A small lot of 48-pound kids topped the market at $401. On the sheep side, 65–68 pound slaughter lambs averaged $242.72, while 72-pound lots held steady at $243. Despite reduced receipts, the sale reflected selective buyer enthusiasm, with lighter feeder goats and slaughter lambs seeing the most upward pressure.