I’M NOT SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS HEARD ABOUT THE FIRE AT THE TYSON PLANT IN GARDEN CITY, KANSAS. THAT PLANT HARVESTED 6,000 HEAD PER DAY OF CATTLE COMING OUT OF THE PACKING CAPACITY IN THE UNITED STATES. THE RESULTS OF THAT FIRE HAD A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON CATTLE PRICES YESTERDAY. WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS IS ANYBODY’S GUESS. REPORTS ARE SAYING THAT THE PLANT COULD BE BACK UP AND RUNNING IN 6 TO 8 WEEKS.

FEEDER CATTLE MARKET WAS DOWN LIMIT OF $450 YESTERDAY AND AS I WRITE THIS MESSAGE, THE FUTURES BOARD IS DOWN $667 ON FEEDER CATTLE TODAY. LIVE CATTLE “SLAUGHTER STEERS AND HEIFERS” ARE DOWN SIMILAR AMOUNTS. OUR MARKET WAS DOWN 1 TO 14 ON STEERS AND 2 TO 17 ON HEIFERS. OKLAHOMA CITY REPORTED SIMILAR NUMBERS.

IS THERE A BRIGHT SPOT? HARD TO SAY WHEN CALF PRICES TAKE THAT KIND OF A HIT. OUR SLAUGHTER COWS AND BULLS WERE STEADY TO FIRMER. TOP HIGH-YIELDING COW WAS $63.50/CWT AND TOP BULL WAS $89.00/CWT. WHAT’S THE NEXT MOVE? I WISH I HAD A WORKING CRYSTAL BALL AND I KNEW THAT ANSWER, BUT I DON’T. I AM CONFIDENT OUR MARKET IS AS STRONG AS ANYBODY’S. WHEN IT’S TIME TO MARKET YOUR LIVESTOCK, SOUTHEAST MS WILL DO YOU A GOOD JOB. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD AT GETTING ALL THE VALUE WE CAN FOR YOUR CATTLE.

WE HAD OVER 950 HEAD OF CATTLE YESTERDAY, WHICH IS GREAT! WE ALSO HAD 8 LOADS OF CATTLE IN OUR BOARD SALE. THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF YOUR SALE BARN AND OUR STAFF. CALL WITH ANY QUESTIONS AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP.

      SINCERELY,

MIKE KEENE

P.S. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31ST WILL BE OUR 18TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN PRODUCERS REPLACEMENT HEIFER SALE. WATCH OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!