Market News

Midday cash livestock markets

Direct cash cattle trade remains quiet with just a few scattered bids on the table.  Packer inquiry is expected to improve throughout the afternoon.  Asking prices are around $119 in the South and $190 plus in the North.  Bids have been reported at $114 live and $184 to $188 dressed.

Boxed beef is mixed at the midday on light to moderate box movement.  Choice is up $.75 at $201.79 and Select is $.08 lower at $183.61.

At the Mitchell Livestock Auction in South Dakota, lightweight steer calves were $3.00 to $5.00 higher and heavier weight steers were steady to $2.00 higher.  Heifer calves were steady to $2.00 higher and yearling steers were steady to $4.00 higher.  Receipts were 8,583 head – more than double the previous week’s auction.  The USDA says demand was very good for the very attractive, high-quality offering.  Most of the calves were moderate flesh.  Feeder supply included 67 percent steers and 87 percent of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Feeder steers, Medium and Large 1’s 600 to 640 pounds were $165.50 to $179.85 and Medium and Large 1’s 701 to 748 pounds were $157.50 to $170.25.  Feeder heifers, Medium and Large 1’s 654 to 696 pounds were $146.00 to $154.50 and Medium and Large 1’s 765 to 799 pounds were $142.50 to $144.85.

Cash hogs are higher at the midday. The trade continues to watch the availability of market-ready numbers.  Slaughter runs took a step back yesterday – but totals are still above week and year-ago levels.   It looks like some packers still need to put forward a few more numbers to meet Saturday’s large kill plans of 245,000 head – or more.

Barrows and gilts National Daily Direct are $1.12 higher with a range of $53.50 to $57.85 and a weighted average of $57.72; the five-day rolling average is $57.51. Trade at the major regional directs were not reported due to confidentiality.

The Midwest cash markets are closed today.

At the Interior Missouri Direct, barrows and gilts are steady to $3.00 lower at $50.00 on light to moderate supply and demand.  Sows were steady at $30.00 to $38.00.  For the week, barrows and gilts are steady to $3.00 lower and sows are $2.00 to $3.00 higher.

At Illinois, slaughter sow prices are steady at $26.00 to $40.00 with moderate demand for light to moderate offerings.  Barrows and gilts are weaker at $34.00 to $41.00 with moderate demand for moderate offerings.

Pork value is firm at the midday – up $.21 at $77.52.  The primals are mixed with a more than $5.00 drop in the rib.