Kansas feedlots began 2025 closing out fewer fed steers in January than in either January 2024 or the previous five-year average, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver.
However, they marketed more fed heifers in January than in the same month last year or in the 2019-2023 average.
The data came from a survey of select Kansas feedlots by the Kansas State University Extension service. The selected feedlots were chosen and surveyed for a variety of data points and the information passed on to the LMIC where it is compiled to arrive at the activities of the “average” Kansas feedlot for the month and published on the LMIC website.
CLOSEOUT DATA MIXED
January steer closeouts from the average Kansas feedlot totaled 4,483 head, down 123, or 2.67%, from December’s 4,606 head, down 1,156, or 20.5%, from 5,639 in January 2024 and down 759, or 14.5%, from the previous five-year average of 5,242 head.
January heifer closeouts from the average Kansas feedlot totaled 4,010 head, up 1,831, or 84.0%, from 2,179 in December but up 865, or 27.5%, from January 2024’s 3,145 head and up 304, or 8.20%, from the previous five-year average of 3,706 head.
Steer and heifer closeouts have a strong seasonal tendency to decline into at least a seasonal low in April. For heifers, this often marks the annual low, although last year, the annual low came in November. Steers have another seasonal low that comes in October, although last year it came in November.
Annual monthly marketing highs for steers come in two places: January and August. Last year, though, they came in January and July.
Annual monthly marketing highs for heifers generally come in January and July, with another one in October. Last year, the highs came in February and July with no third peak.
FINAL WEIGHTS MIXED
Final weights for steers and heifers from Kansas feed yards in January were up from last year and the 2019-2023 average but were down a bit from December.
Steers leaving the average Kansas feedlot in January weighed 1,487 pounds, down 27, or 1.78%, from December’s 1,514 pounds but up 52, or 3.62%, from January 2024’s 1,435 pounds and up 43, or 2.98%, from the previous five-year average of 1,444 pounds.
On their way to the packer in January, heifers weighed 1,349 pounds, down eight, or 0.59%, from December’s 1,357 pounds but up 55, or 4.25%, from 1,294 a year ago and up 25, or 1.89%, from the average of 1,324 pounds.
Final weights drop into an April low before climbing through December.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $198.16 per cwt to $198.16, compared with last week’s range of $199.80 to $207.87 per cwt. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $313.01 per cwt to $313.93, compared with $313.22 to $319.42.
The USDA choice cutout Monday was up $2.10 per cwt at $313.93 while select was up $0.36 at $302.41. The choice/select spread widened to $11.52 from $9.78 with 80 loads of fabricated product and 20 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef was $381.16 per cwt, and 50% beef was $101.94.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were $1.20 to $1.30 a bushel over the May corn contract, which settled at $4.56 1/4, down $0.13 1/4.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Friday was $280.58 per cwt, down $0.48. This compares with Monday’s Mar contract settlement of $274.02, down $0.95.