From Staff Reports
The Canadian County cattle market continued to show signs of recovery this week with an increase in sales at the OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno.
Beef production is expected to be at full throttle this month, reports Bill Barnhart, OKC West general manager.
“The market has made a real nice recovery and I think people are anticipating things will back to normal,” Barnhart said.
Sales hit 7,500 head by the end of the weekly auction Wednesday, an increase of 500 from the previous week’s sales. Prices have also improved.
During the last week of March, as uncertainty with the market and the pandemic set in, sales were at 3,100 head.
On July 8, the Market reported 7,000 sold and prices up.
“Another good week for the cattle market at OKC West,” Barnhart reported on his weekly Facebook media update.
The sales this month are about the same as July last year.
“The number of cattle moving has stayed pretty normal,” Barnhart said.
Feeders cattle were quoted Wednesday $2-$6 higher and calves $2 higher.
In March, the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown affected beef production at plants nationwide.
Auctions for cattle are on a weekly schedule with cows on Mondays, stockers and calves Tuesdays and feeder cattle on Wednesdays.
The nationwide demand for beef will affect the market, Barnhart said.
“With record beef production on tap for July we will need tremendous demand to keep this train moving,” Barnhart said.
Barnhart said due to COVID-19 the auctions were limited for producers during the first weeks of the pandemic, but the public is again allowed to attend and more people are showing up. Many people are wearing masks, he said.
The market is located at 7200 E State Highway 66.
