Sales of fed steers to beef packers by Kansas feedlots in December were up from November, following a seasonal trend, and ended at a point between last year’s sales and those of the previous five-year average.
The data came from a monthly survey of specific Kansas feed yards by the Kansas State University Extension service. This data then is compiled and extrapolated to give the activity of a synthetic “average” feedlot, graphed and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver.
DECEMBER STEER MARKETINGS NEAR AVERAGE
The data showed that the average Kansas feedlot sold 4,966 head of slaughter-ready steers in December, 326, or 7.03%, more than December 2021’s 4,640 but 649, or 11.6%, less than the 2017-2020 total of 5,615 head.
However, while fed heifer marketings to packers also were up from November, they remained well below the previous year or the five-year average. The data showed December fed heifer marketings from the average Kansas feedlot at 3,258 head, down 1,255, or 27.8%, from 4,513 a year earlier and down 698, or 17.6%, from the previous five-year average of 3,956 head.
Kansas feedlot marketings of steers and heifers tend to fall away in January and February, but winter marketings depend greatly on weather conditions, a market analyst said.
FINAL WEIGHTS MIXED
Exit weights for Kansas feedlot steers and heifers were mixed in December with steer weights falling sharply and heifer weights gaining.
The average weight of fed steers being marketed to packers in December was 1,411 pounds, down 66, or 4.47%, from 1,477 a year earlier and down 32.8, or 2.27%, from the 2016-2020 average of 1,443.8 pounds. It also was down 44, or 3.02%, from November’s seasonal high of 1,455 pounds.
December closeout weights for heifers from Kansas feedlots was 1,341 pounds, up 20, or 1.51%, from November’s 1,321 head, up 16, or 1.21%, from December 2021’s 1,325 head and up 39, or 3.00%, from the previous five-year average of 1,302 pounds.
December exit weights for steers from Kansas feed yards can go up or down from November, but the tendency is for them to decline marginally. In 2021, exit weights rose to the annual high in December. Last year’s drop was unusual in its intensity.
Heifer exit weights last year tended to follow the 2016-2021 average closely, although at a higher level. In general, they followed 2021 through March, stayed higher than 2021 through June and they swung higher to October, dipped in November and then ended higher, challenging the January high of 1,344 head.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers last week ranged from $156.00 to $159.58 per cwt, compared with the previous week’s range of $155.57 to $157.50. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $244.52 to $252.19 per cwt, versus $244.42 to $249.79.
The USDA choice cutout Friday was up $0.37 per cwt at $269.66 while select was up $0.28 at $254.29. The choice/select spread widened to $15.37 from $15.28 with 62 loads of fabricated product and 49 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.57 to $1.70 a bushel over the Mar corn contract. Bids in Kansas were steady at $0.75 over Mar, which settled at $6.80 1/2 a bushel, up $0.09 3/4.
Ten steer contracts were retendered and demanded for delivery at one on Friday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Thursday was $183.09 per cwt, up $0.56. This compares with Friday’s Mar contract settlement of $186.40 per cwt, down $0.42.