Feedlot sales of slaughter-ready cattle to beef packers from Kansas feedlots in October dropped seasonally and steer sales may have set the second lowest point in the year.
The information was reported by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver and was derived from data collected by the Kansas State University Extension service. The Extension service surveys select Kansas feed yards for their performance data and forwards it to the LMIC for compilation and publication. The effort yields the data for an “average” Kansas feedlot.
OCTOBER CLOSEOUTS FALL
October fed steer closeouts for that “average” Kansas feedlot came to 2,878 head, down 1,577, or 35.4%, from 4,455 in September, down 669, or 18.9%, from 3,547 in October 2024 and down 388, or 11.9%, from the 2019-2023 average of 3,266 head.
On average, October steer closeouts from that average Kansas feedlot mark the low point in the seasonal closeouts, although last year, the bottom came in November.
If October steer closeouts aren’t the seasonal low, they could challenge the year’s low point in closeouts so far, which came in May at 2,565 head.
From October, steer closeouts from the average Kansas feed yard should rise into January.
Heifer closeouts from the average Kansas feedlot in October also declined and fell below the five-year average, but remained larger than the same month last year.
October heifer closeouts from the average Kansas feedlot came to 1,081 head, down 2,730, or 71.6%, from 3,811 in September, up 1,677, or 60.8%, from 2,758 last year and down 2,493, or 69.8%, from the 2019-2023 average of 3,574.
In essence, the month-to-month decline in October Kansas feedlot heifer closeouts was counter-seasonal, although last year’s figure also was down from September.
On average, November’s heifer closeouts are down from October, which is followed by a rise into January.
FINAL WEIGHTS UP
The exit weights of steers and heifers from the average Kansas feedlot in October was up from September, setting 2025 highs for both. The average final weight of steers from the average feedlot was 1,551 pounds, up 19, or 1.24%, from 1,532 a month earlier, up 41, or 2.72%, from 1,510 a year earlier and up 107, or 7.41%, from the previous five-year average of 1,444 pounds.
The average final weight of heifers going to slaughter from the average Kansas feedlot in October was 1,378 pounds, up from 1,345 in September, up from 1,326 a year ago and up from the 2019-2023 average of 1,306 pounds.
On average, the exit weights of steers and heifers should rise into December.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $228.63 per cwt to $230.49, compared with last week’s range of $225.74 to $232.96 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $359.58 per cwt to $361.14, compared with $353.34 to $363.91.
The USDA choice cutout Tuesday was down $7.10 per cwt at $355.77 while select was off $1.10 at $349.59. The choice/select spread narrowed to $6.18 from $12.18 with 118 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 as $394.63 per cwt, and 50% beef was $125.77.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $0.90 to $1.10 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.47 1/2, up $0.00 1/2.
No live cattle contracts were tendered for delivery Tuesday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Monday was $353.08 per cwt, up $1.17. This compares with Tuesday’s Jan contract settlement of $344.62, down $1.87.