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.
Hale said the Oklahoma National Stockyards started the week “a little lighter on numbers of cattle versus a year ago” with 4,800 head compared to 6,400, but prices were unexpectedly strong. “It was a stout, stout market on all classes yesterday,” he explained. “USDA was calling up to $20 higher on the steer calves and heifer calves, $15 to $25.” Feeder cattle also rallied, with steers up $5 and heifers up $2 to $6.
Hale credited stronger demand to tight supplies and market scares tied to the screw worm situation near the border. “It just seems like after we took several dollars off of these calf markets in recent weeks, folks are figuring out that numbers are pretty tight. Heifers are tighter than the steers.” He noted that while some 60–90 day weaned cattle are available, “a true long yearling—there’s not many of them out there.”
On whether ranchers are holding back females, Hale said, “Some, but not a lot we’ve bought some heifers for some guys to breed.” Still, he added, “every week we do have more feeder steers than we do heifers.”
Looking ahead, Hale said wheat pasture prospects are encouraging. “Southern Oklahoma and the far north Texas, they got pretty good rains, you still grow a lot of wheat between now and the next six weeks if we get rain.” He also outlined upcoming sales: “About 1,500 to 1,600 in Waurika today, a pretty good run at Comanche Wednesday, and several feeders already in at Woodward for Thursday.”
Despite strong prices, Hale said some producers are hesitant to sell. “This market’s good, but they still got a lot of green grass too, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it doesn’t slow up here for a little bit till we get a freeze or something that shakes them loose.”
Hale can be contacted at 940-631-2333. Check out more about the marketing options that Western offers by clicking here.
