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. Today, Ron Hays visits with Peyton Hale.
Despite another week of volatility in the futures market, cattle prices at the Oklahoma National Stockyards remained resilient as receipts climbed back above 5,000 head. Peyton Hale said the market performed better than many expected despite late-week pressure. “I thought it held up extremely well after the volatility and losing a few dollars there at the end of the week,” Hale said, noting there was a strong offering of cattle and numbers had returned to a more typical range.
Hale said the sharp decline in the fed cattle market had little impact on feeder cattle demand because supplies remain tight. “The numbers are light enough everywhere, and the optimism, the cash has sure held strong compared to the board,” he said. That continued confidence is supporting prices even as futures have experienced significant swings.
Producers remain optimistic about the cattle market, but Hale said some are marketing cattle earlier than usual. “We are seeing a lot of guys maybe taking advantage of the market a little bit sooner than what they usually do,” he explained, adding that some are selling lighter-weight cattle because of uncertain moisture conditions. While pasture conditions are still generally manageable, Hale cautioned, “We’re not in terrible shape over a large area, but we sure are going to need a rain pretty soon.”
At the same time, Hale said the strong bred cow and pair market is encouraging more producers to retain replacement females. “I’m seeing more of them starting to hold those things back now,” he said. “Now they’re looking at, well, maybe we’ll just keep some of our heifers and breed them.” Looking ahead, Hale expects around 2,500 head at the Waurika sale, 1,200 to 1,500 at Comanche, and approximately 1,500 to 2,000 head later in the week at Woodward.
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
