Mother Nature continues her unfriendly assault on us in the cattle business. Feed yard conditions are awful and we just pray to get some warmer weather soon. Cattle on feed report offered few surprises. It stated this is the largest on feed numbers in March since 2006. In addition march on feed numbers in Iowa and Nebraska were at new record totals. Outside of the report, beef inventories in storage are 8.4% lower than 1 year ago. Let’s hope demand keeps up and we can work through these higher on feed numbers. There has been quite a bit of negative news in the markets lately. Just maybe most of the negative nellies are done yacking. We could use some positive news!

  Fed Cattle/Weigh Cows Tues, March 27th:
After an assault on the futures market fed cattle traded lower. 3-5% mud is unfortunately becoming a common thing. So between a $3-6 dock on mud and lower bids it has created uneasy times. The board tells us we need to keep the gates open. Weigh cows were $2-4 better but still remains a very disgusting trade!!
Fat Cattle (171  head):
Str. Top - $123.50
Str. Choice - $120-$123.50
Str. Select/Choice - $117-$120
2-Ways - $no test
Hfr. Top - $122
Hfr. Choice - $119-$122
Hfr. Select/Choice - $116-$119
2-Ways - $no test
Choice Holsteins - $no test
Select Holsteins - $no test
Fat Hfrts. - $80-$95
Weigh Cows 195 head):  
Top Cows: $65-$70
Bulk: $54-$64
Low Yield: $40-$50
Premium Bulls: $89-$95
Bulk of Bulls: $80-$90
Cutting Bulls: $90-$110
Preg open hfrs: $100-$110
Hfrts: $70-$90

FEEDER CATTLE, Mar 23rd:
Friday’s Calf/Yrlg auction offered just short of 1500 head. Futures sold off  hard in the last 10 days and there is a definite lower under tone in the trade. Thank you so much to all Buyers & Sellers! Here are some actual sales.
7   Strs 401# @ $200.00
29 Strs 542# @ $187.75
79 Strs 559# @ $182.75
62 Strs 688# @ $157.25
55 Strs 823# @ $138.00                                 
26 Hfrs 516# @ $166.50
37 Hfrs 515# @ $168.00
64 Hfrs 602# @ $153.50
70 Hfrs 701# @ $140.00
141 Hfrs 701# @ $137.60

If you have calves or yrlings to market please give us a call for an on the farm appraisal. 

Western Iowa Preconditioned Calf/Yrlg Friday April 6th  @ 11 am.  

Next auction is 
Special Calf/Yrlg Friday, April 20th @ 11am  

BRED FEMALE/PAIRS, March 21st:
We had just over 600 head of Cows, Bred Hfrs, & breeding bulls Wednesday on our cow special. The York Creek Red Angus bulls averaged over $3000.00 with the top bull at $6100.00. Pair trade was strong form $1700-$2000. Here are the ranges on the breds
1^st calf Hfrs $1500-$1750
Young Breds $1400-$1800.
Med Age Breds $1100-$1360
Broken Mouth $950-$1200.

Our next big Bred female special is  Wed, April 18th @ 11am.