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, Knoxville, Iowa, and now Waurika, Oklahoma.
Monday’s sale only saw 1600 head compared to 6,700 head a year ago after heavy rains last weekend left soggy conditions, and unlike the past several weeks, prices pulled back considerably – $5 to $15 lower.
Hale admitted that the lowered numbers likely had an impact on the prices, but so did the drop on the futures market, mainly due to tariff concerns.
“We are getting a little bit of bounce back today, so hopefully, we can recoil to go again,” Hale said. “I still don’t think we are in trouble, yet, by any stretch. I think the market is sure going to be good, and a good general rain down into Texas, Southern Oklahoma, and out West is going to slow down some cattle moving, which is a good thing – to spread them out and get them bigger. We don’t want them all pinching up in the grow yards and feedyards because there is nothing to eat outside.”
Spreading placements out helps the market work how it should, which in turn rewards the industry.
Western Livestock Auctions added the sale barn in Waurika, Oklahoma, to their lineup on Friday and are having their first sale today, which are also experiencing lighter runs after receiving 3 to 5 inches of rain. Hale is planning a special cow sale at the facility in late April.
Tomorrow, the Comanche auction is expecting a good run of yearlings, and Woodward is also expected to have good numbers this week.
Hale believes that the new location at Waurika will complement the existing sale at Comanche, providing buyers and sellers in the area another opportunity to do business.
“Before, we only had one day that we could really do it,” Hale explained. “It just opens it up for some customers – if the weather is bad or they need to do something else, we can get it done on another day of the week.”
Waurika’s sale will be held on each Tuesday, and Comanche’s sale is held on Wednesdays. The two facilities are only eighteen miles apart.
“We look forward to taking over where George and Joe did,” Hale shared. “I think they spent 38 years down there and there wasn’t a better option in the country than George and Joe Williams. They are just honest people who run an honest business, and we were tickled that they agreed to sell it to us. We just want to carry on what they started many, many years ago.”
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
