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.
Market conditions remained strong at the second June sale at the Oklahoma National Stock Yards, according to Hale. While feeder cattle prices continued to climb, Hale noted that uncertainty surrounding the confirmation of New World screwworm cases in the United States created some nervousness earlier in the week. Despite those concerns, demand remained solid. “It went up compared to last week, and we had a lot of demand on those heavier nine-weight cattle than we did a week ago, and the heifer deal was quite a bit better,” Hale said. He added that while the calf and grazing cattle market has softened somewhat, that is likely due more to seasonal factors such as heat, humidity, and recent rainfall.
Hale believes the cattle industry is now in a better position after the initial shock of confirmed screwworm cases in Texas. “I’m just glad we got it over with. Now we can go on like we did with the Mad Cow deal,” he said. Hale expressed confidence that producers can manage the threat through vigilance, noting that cattle producers are already closely monitoring their herds. “Hopefully, we just stay diligent, and I think we can get ahead of it.”
Producer attitudes remain upbeat despite the concerns. Hale said customers were encouraged by the strong feeder cattle trade and the resilience of the market. “Everybody’s attitude is really good. They’re real tickled yesterday with the way that deal was, and that kind of popping up on those feeders,” he said. Although cattle numbers remain lower than in years past, Hale emphasized that prices continue to support producers. “The market’s extremely stout. I mean, it is, and even these calves are cheaper, but they’re still dollar now to extremely good for it.”
Looking ahead, Hale expects marketings to remain somewhat lighter in the coming weeks as recent rains have reduced the urgency for producers to sell cattle. He reported upcoming sales at Waurika, Woodward, and Comanche, but expects overall volumes to stay moderate until midsummer. “We had rain around, they don’t have to sell them, and so I think it will be a little slower here for a while till we get into July, probably July and August,” Hale said.
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
