On Tuesdays, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays visits with Ben Hale of Western Livestock Auctions as he talks about the latest in the markets and more. Established in 1995, Western has grown into a multi-generational family-owned and operated business and stands as a symbol of tradition, excellence, and a deep-rooted passion for the cattle industry. Western Livestock Auctions operates the Western Livestock Commission Firm, which sells cattle on Mondays and Tuesdays. They also operate the livestock auction markets in Woodward, Comanche, Waurika, and Knoxville, Iowa.
After a week of snow and bitter cold that disrupted livestock movement across Oklahoma, auction barns are slowly getting back into a rhythm, though runs remain well below normal. Hale said weather was the clear driver behind lighter receipts, noting Oklahoma National Stockyards saw “a little over 2,600 compared to 9,700 a year ago,” adding that “the weather…did it,” as producers were reluctant to move cattle during the cold snap.
Despite lighter numbers, Hale emphasized that buyer demand stayed strong. “The demand was awful strong,” he said, explaining that “feeders [were] 4 to 12 higher, and the grazing cattle pretty well steady, with some spots being higher than they were two weeks ago.” While some calf prices appeared steady on paper, Hale joked that didn’t mean bargains, saying, “the ones I was trying to buy were awful high,” especially for quality, weaned calves that continued to bring strong money.
Hale expects improving weather to support both cattle movement and pasture conditions in the days ahead. With temperatures forecast above normal, he said warming conditions should help snow melt and benefit forage. “That should let all this snow hopefully melt in and give us a little bit of moisture in our pastures and wheat especially,” Hale said, adding that muddy conditions in parts of North Texas were still welcomed for the moisture they brought.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, Hale outlined lighter but improving runs across his barns, with expectations for a rebound soon. He reported “a little over 1,000” head at Waurika, “a little over 300 cows at Woodward,” and light numbers in Oklahoma City, with better runs expected later in the week. Hale believes normal movement isn’t far off, saying, “the market sure looks like it’s going to drive them out, if anybody’s got anything to market.”
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
