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.
The Oklahoma National Stockyards ran more than 4,000 head through its gates yesterday, despite widespread muddy conditions across the state. This compares to 6,300 head at this time last year.
Prices were called $5 to $10 higher, and the feeder market was “tremendous” according to Hale.
It seems that each week, the top of the market is raised higher. “It just keeps moving higher, like that,” Hale said. “The demand is good. The fats keep getting higher and higher. Everything is just moving up how it needs to in the supply chain of the cattle deal, whether it be grazers, feeders, or fats.”
Hale mentioned that, between the widespread availability of grass across the southern states and the high prices of calves, producers are beginning to consider keeping their older cows to get another calf out of them.
The sale barn in Waurika expects to move 1,800 to 2,000 head today due to less muddy conditions, with similarly good runs expected at Comanche on Wednesday and Woodward on Thursday.
“They’re going to be good runs, and it looks like the market is going to be awful stout,” Hale added.
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
