The higher fed cattle prices and CME pushed feeder cattle prices higher and pulled a lot more feeder cattle to auction barns this week. There was 46,400 head at the test auctions, which was 8,000 head higher than last week and 4,000 head over last year. Prices were $2-3 higher on yearlings and $4-6 higher on the lighter, stocker-type cattle.

Turning to slaughter cows, there was a bigger run of cows at the test auctions, but there was a lot more bred cows which is normal this time of the year. Prices were mostly steady to $1 higher on slaughter cows but a few auctions in big snow areas with fewer receipts jumped a lot more as packers fought over small numbers.