Market News

Midday cash livestock markets

The cash cattle trade is fairly slow to start, with just a few scattered bids noted in Eastern Nebraska at 212.00. Packer inquiry is expected to improve as the day progresses. Asking prices are around 140.00 in the South and 218.00 plus in the North.

Boxed beef cutout values were higher in the morning report, with the choice up 1.36 at 225.18, and select .17 higher at 213.81.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Huss Platte Valley cattle auction in Nebraska totaled 4340 head. Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers sold unevenly steady to 4.00 lower. The demand was moderate to good from start to finish. The run consisted of packages and load lots of mostly home raised calves and feeders with flesh scores ranging from thin flesh to fleshy. Feeder steers, medium and large 1 with an average weight of 770 pounds traded at 161.42 per hundredweight. 773 pound heifers brought 148.11.

At the Sioux Falls Regional Livestock at Worthing, South Dakota, sheep receipts totaled 949 head on Wednesday. Slaughter lambs sold steady to 4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Slaughter ewes were mostly steady. Feeder lambs were not well tested last week. The demand was moderate for slaughter, and feeder lambs. Slaughter lambs choice and prime 2-3 weighing 138 pounds brought 130.83 per hundredweight. Feeder lambs medium and large 1-2 weighing 73 pounds brought 207.50.

Dyersville, Iowa Hay Auction on Wednesday was $10.00 a ton lower on large squares, topping at 150.00 a ton on several loads. Round bales were 10.00 higher topping at 130.00 per ton. Dairy hay continues to sell well, but offerings remain very limited.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade opened 1.14 lower, the West is down 1.01 with both at 63.00 weighted average on a carcass basis. Nationally the hog market is .94 lower at 61.78. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 55.00 to 57.00. Midwest hogs on a live basis are steady from 36.00 to 40.00.

The pork carcass cutout value was down .39 at 75.54 FOB plant.

For the week ending March 5, Iowa barrows and gilts averaged 282.9 pounds, 1.8 pounds lighter than the previous week and 1.3 pounds smaller than 2015.