Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, is talking with Bob Rodenberger, a partner with Stockmans Livestock Marketing, as he gives the latest on the cattle markets.
Runs compared to a year ago are at about 1000 or less, Rodenberger said, and at Apache, he said numbers are down 12 percent from a year ago.
Rodenberger said the market has been excellent for light cattle on the grazing end.
“The feeder market is just holding its own,” Rodenberger said. “It is not any better or any worse. The index is down to like 216, and that is kind of based on your area.”
While there is grass and wheat potential, Rodenberger said some areas are still suffering from drought and low ponds.
“We are taking a big hit in this feeder market,” Rodenberger said. “You know, 40 to 50 dollars per hundredweight, so on an eight-weight steer, you are looking at 400 dollars per head.”
Rodenberger said the calf market is a little cheaper, but it has not taken the hit that the stocker operator or the fat cattle market has.
“We are still selling cattle 200 to 300 dollars higher than we were a year ago per head,” Rodenberger said. “Optimistically, we are still in a good situation.”
Sale Dates for the Holidays for Oklahoma National Stockyards:
December 11th–Regular Sale day
December 18–Regular Sale day and Beef Battalion Auction
Sale dates for Stockman’s Livestock Auction in Apache:
The last sale is This Thursday, and we will open back up on the 4th of January.
