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, and Knoxville, Iowa.
The sale in Oklahoma City had good numbers, running 7,800 yesterday compared to 6,400 last year. Prices were $4 to $9 higher across the board, including grazing steers and feeders. Light heifers were called steady to stronger.
“Grass fever makes for a strong market,” Hale said.
Oklahoma City has continually experienced good numbers of five and six-weight steers and upwards to the tight seven weights that do well on turnout. Buyers have come to depend upon finding them there consistently further strengthening the market.
Value-added cattle continue to bring top-dollar. Hale described a group of eighteen steers averaging 581 pounds a piece that brought $3.80 per pound. While that group topped the market, many others in that weight-class brought prices in the mid-three-dollar range.
“Then you get those tight seven-weight steers that are thin enough to turn back out – some of those brought $3.10-$3.15, and it just makes for a stout market,” Hale said.
Woodward is anticipating plenty of good, bred, stock cows in today’s sale with good numbers also expected on Thursday. Wednesday’s sale in Comanche will have some good cows and a group of light roping calves.
The unusually high winds are causing growing concerns about drying conditions going into spring in the countryside.
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
