Cattle prices in dollars per hundredweight (cwt.) except some replacement animals per pair or head as indicated.

NORTHWEST DIRECT CATTLE

(USDA Market News)

Moses Lake, Wash.

Jan. 11

This week Last week Last year

7,850 NA 1,850

No trends due to the holidays the last two weeks and market not reported. Trade turned active as feedlots became aggressive for numbers. Demand is good. The feeder supply included 85 percent steers and 15 percent heifers. Near 93 percent of the supply weighed over 600 lbs. Prices are FOB weighing point with a 1-4 percent shrink or equivalent and with a 5-10 cent slide on calves and a 3-6 cent slide on yearlings.

Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 500-550 lbs. $179.75 thin Oregon; 550-600 lbs. $159.75 Oregon; 700-800 lbs. $140-141 Washington; 800-850 lbs. $140-148 Oregon-Washington-Idaho, 800 lbs. $151 value added Oregon. Current Delivered Prices: 550-600 lbs. $162 Idaho; 650-700 lbs. $143 Idaho; 750 lbs. $142 Idaho. Future delivery FOB Price: 850-900 lbs. $144 for February Washington. Future Delivery Delivered Prices: 850-900 lbs. $145-147 for May-June Washington-Oregon.

Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: Current FOB Price: 450-500 lbs. $159.75 Oregon; 500-550 lbs. $150-156 Oregon; 600-650 lbs. $136-141 Washington-Idaho; 750 lbs. $137 Washington. Current Delivered Prices: 700 lbs. $136 Idaho. Future delivery FOB Price: 800-850 lbs. $139 for February Washington.

NATIONAL FEEDER AND STOCKER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

St. Joseph, Mo.

Jan. 11

This week Last week Last year

400,100 85,600 495,700

Feeder cattle marketing was brisk for the first full week of 2013. Compared to the last full non-holiday week of sales, feeder cattle sold firm to $5 higher with steer and heifer calves selling $3-10 higher. The weather was accommodating in most major production areas with sellers anxious to get cattle off their grocery bill in the new tax year and buyers actively bidding to fill orders that were low on inventory after the holiday break. Despite lighter numbers of available feeder cattle and producers selling cattle ahead of schedule, auction receipts for the busiest week of the year were only 7 percent lighter than the same week a year ago.

Average feeder cattle prices were very comparable to a year ago with Northern Plains markets falling just a few dollars short and Southern Plains locations slightly higher, while the Southeastern region quoted popular calf weights from $3-8 higher than a year ago. Trading was very active for all classes, but mounting pressure from lower CME cattle futures started to limit gains toward the end of the week (especially on direct country sales that are tied much closer to the Board).

Beneficial moisture moved across the country late this past week with the eastern half of the United States enjoying unseasonably warm weather and spotty rain showers, while the western half shivered under a cold front and heavy snowfall in the northwestern states. Producers are already hoping for an early spring with hay piles quickly evaporating and winter pasture almost nonexistent. Despite the shortage of feed, the CME Feeder Cattle futures are posting at least a $5 increase in the value of a 750 lb. steer before the next corn crop comes in. The fed cattle outlook has been tempered a bit in the last several weeks, but most still expect the all-time record high of $130 to be broken by the end of the first quarter. If feeder cattle offerings dry-up in late winter and early spring like many market members expect they will, there could be more room for late spring and summer fed markets to grow. On Jan. 7 at the feeder cattle auction in Russell, Iowa, a load of 964 lb. steers brought $141.60 which leaves little time to back those cattle into a profit before they finish. Fed cattle prices lost $2-3 through the week's trading to close at $126 live and $202-203 in the beef. There were 334 contracts of CME December Live Cattle deliveries that were made on a live basis and graded by USDA Livestock Market News personnel finished-up this week. February is also lining up to be a delivery month with the Board trading at a premium to cash and April several dollars higher. The current week's reported auction volume included 57 percent over 600 lbs. and 41 percent heifers.

AUCTIONS

This week Last week Last year

345,100 54,500 371,400

WASHINGTON 1,600. 72 pct over 600 lbs. 34 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 500-550 lbs. $156.10; pkg 590 lbs. $144; 650-700 lbs. $137.73; 750-800 lbs. $135.18; 800-850 lbs. $128.11. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 600-650 lbs. $137.09; 700-750 lbs. $127.54.

DIRECT

This week Last week Last year

48,500 26,300 79,700

SOUTHWEST (Arizona-California-Nevada) 7,400. No cattle over 600 lbs. No heifers. Holsteins: Large 3 April 275 lbs. $152 del; 300 lbs. $148 del: May 275 lbs. $165 del.

NORTHWEST (Washington-Oregon-Idaho) 7,900. 93 pct over 600 lbs. 15 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB 500-550 lbs. $179.75 thin Oregon; 550-600 lbs. $159.75 Oregon; 700-800 lbs. $140-141 Washington; 800-850 lbs. $140-148 Oregon-Washington-Idaho, 800 lbs. $151 value added Oregon; Current Delivered 550-600 lbs. $162 Idaho; 650-700 lbs. $143 Idaho; 750 lbs. $142 Idaho; Future delivery FOB 850-900 lbs. $144 for February Washington; Future Delivery Delivered 850-900 lbs. $145-147 for May-June Washington-Oregon. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 Current FOB 450-500 lbs. $159.75 Oregon; 500-550 lbs. $150-156 Oregon; 600-650 lbs. $136-141 Washington-Idaho; 750 lbs. $137 Washington; Current Delivered 700 lbs. $136 Idaho; Future delivery FOB 800-850 lbs. $139 for February Washington.

NATIONAL SLAUGHTER CATTLE

(Federal-State Market News)

Oklahoma City-Des Moines

Jan. 11

Compared to Jan. 2: Slaughter cattle $2 lower on a live basis. Demand moderate. Dressed sales in Nebraska on few comparable sales at $2-3 lower. Boxed beef prices Jan. 11 averaged $189.02 up $.78 from Jan. 2. The Choice/Select spread is at $10.41. Slaughter cattle on a national basis for negotiated cash trades through Jan. 2 noon totaled about 55,128 head. The previous week's total head count was 88,325.

Midwest Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-80 Percent Choice, 1200-1400 lbs. $125-126 Dressed Basis: Steers and Heifers: $201-203.

South Plains Direct Markets: Live Basis: Steers and Heifers 35-65 percent Choice, 1100-1400 lbs. $125-126.

Slaughter Cows and Bulls (Average Yielding Prices): Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to $3 higher compared to those sold before the holidays.

USDA's Cutter cow carcass cut-out value Jan. 11 was $164.58 up $1.48 from Jan. 2.