Cattle prices hit historic highs

APACHE, Okla. (AP) High selling prices are leading cattle producers to bring their animals to auction more frequently this year. <br/><br/>At one auction house in Apache, the manager expects about 22,000

Monday, May 9th 2005, 6:31 am

By: News On 6

APACHE, Okla. (AP) High selling prices are leading cattle producers to bring their animals to auction more frequently this year.

At one auction house in Apache, the manager expects about 22,000 more cattle to be sold this year than last year.

Manager Bob Rodenberger of Stockman-Oklahoma Livestock Marketing says prices for cattle are at historic highs, and they just keep getting better.

A 400-pound steer calf that sold for $500 last year is selling for about $80 more this year, and a 700-pound steer is about $120 more expensive than last year.

Producers say the high prices are helping to offset higher costs for gasoline and diesel.

Among consumers, marketing specialist Derrell Peel with the Oklahoma State University Extension says there's a strong demand for beef. The difference is that people are buying less because of the high prices.