March closeouts from feedlots in Kansas dropped seasonally in March and could continue to do so through April or May, according to data collected by the Kansas State University Extension Service.
Each month, the K-State Extension Service surveys a select group of feedlots around the state for performance data. It turns the data over to the Livestock Marketing Information Service in Denver for compilation. The goal is to formulate the activities of the “average” Kansas feedlot and publish the results on its webpage.
CLOSEOUTS DECLINE SEASONALLY
March closeouts from that “average” Kansas feedlot declined from January and February, which is the seasonal norm. The number of closeouts each month, however, was less than the same month last year and the 2020-2024 average, which would fit with the lower number of cattle on feed from the historically small US herd size and the ban on Mexican feeder cattle.
The number of fed cattle the “average” Kansas feedlot sold I March was 3,532 head, down 563, or 13.7%, from 4,095 in February and down 293, or 7.66%, from the previous five-year average of 3,825 head.
On average, Kansas feedlot marketings hit their annual monthly low in April, although last year it was in May. From the annual low, they typically rise into an August peak, although last year the summer peak occurred in July.
From the summer peak, they decline again into October or November before ramping up again in December. Last year, the fall bottom was in October followed by a rise into November and a pull-back in December.
FINAL WEIGHTS DIP, REMAIN ELEVATED
Exit weights of cattle leaving that “average” Kansas feedlot in March were down a bit from February but not by a lot. They also remained elevated from the same 2025 month and the 2020-2024 average.
The average March exit weight of Kansas feedlot cattle was 1,525 pounds, down three, or 0.20%, from 1,528 in February but up 32, or 2.14%, from 1,493 pounds a year earlier and up 107, or 7.55%, from the previous five-year average of 1,418 pounds.
Typically, exit weights from the “average” Kansas feed yard bottom in April and begin rising unevenly through the rest of the year. Last year, they touched a double bottom in April and June before beginning the seasonal rise.
DAYS ON FEED TAKE UNSEASONABLE DIP
The number of days the cattle exiting the “average” Kansas feedlot in March spent on feed was down from February but up from last year or the average.
The number of days spent on feed was 196, down two, or 1.01%, from 198 in February but up 21, or 12.0%, from 175 a year earlier and up 4.4, or 2.30%, from the five-year average of 191.6.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $260.46 per cwt to $264.00, compared with last week’s range of $258.00 to $264.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $409.84 per cwt to $411.43, compared with $404.17 to $414.25.
The USDA choice cutout Wednesday was up $1.82 per cwt at $394.72 while select was down $1.01 at $389.29. The choice/select spread widened to $5.43, from $2.60 with 120 loads of fabricated product and 24 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $459.46 per cwt, and 50% beef was $187.79.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.12 to $1.20 a bushel over the Jul corn contract, which settled at $4.52 1/2 a bushel, down $0.05.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Tuesday was $367.26 per cwt, down $4.23. This compares with Wednesday’s Aug contract settlement of $354.62, up $5.17.