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.
Cattle markets are navigating a period of heightened uncertainty, with outside pressures weighing on volume while prices continue to show surprising resilience. That dynamic was evident this week at the Oklahoma National Stockyards as Western Livestock’s Ben Hale reflected on how recent events shaped trade and producer sentiment.
Hale said receipts totaled around 5,500 head, noting they were “quite a bit less than a year ago,” partly due to cattle moving out after late-week market turbulence. Despite that pressure, he emphasized that the market held together better than expected. “Market was surprisingly good compared to all that,” Hale said, adding that it “wasn’t a bloodbath by any stretch… just a pullback.” Even with some classes trading steady to lower, he stressed that cattle are “still dollaring out a lot of money.”
He pointed out that when producers look at actual dollars per head, the strength is hard to ignore. “When you start looking at the literal dollars per head, it’s amazing. It’s extremely good,” Hale said. He added that the cow and stock cow markets remain “extremely high,” while grazing cattle continue to bring strong returns. With futures recovering somewhat, Hale noted, “The board wound up closing up a little bit yesterday… that was a positive deal.” He said hopes for rain and strong wheat pasture conditions could further support grazing demand, explaining that wheat “looks extremely good… almost like a feed yard setting.”
Looking beyond Oklahoma City, Hale said activity across the state has been encouraging. He reported strong recent feeder sales at Comanche, another solid run expected at Waurika, and a special calf sale planned at Woodward alongside a regular Thursday sale. “Market was good all last week at all the markets,” he said, adding that operators remain “cautiously optimistic” as they watch global events and futures movement. For producers wanting to visit further, Hale encouraged them to reach out directly, saying, “We’d love to visit with them.”
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
