Market News

Midday cash livestock prices for Monday

It is a typical Monday in cattle country with the main item of business the distribution of this week’s showlists. It will be interesting to see just when business will develop this week as last week’s trade waited until Friday afternoon and seemed to be on the light side. There were a few live deals in the South at mostly a dollar lower than the previous week and dressed deals in the North were generally steady.

Boxed beef prices are mixed at midday with the choice up .66 at 222.76, select boxes are down .74 at 211.72.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Joplin regional Stockyards on Monday totaled 4500 head. Compared to last week, steer calves opened steady to 2.00 higher, heifer calves sold weak to 4.00 lower. Yearlings did not have an early test. The demand was called moderate to good and the supply was moderate. Feeder steers medium and large 1 weighing 500 to 600 pounds traded from 206.00 to 225.00 per hundredweight. 5 to 6 weight heifers brought 191.00 to 210.00 at Joplin.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota and Western direct trade areas are not reported due to confidentiality. Eastern market hogs are 1.85 lower with a weighted average of 117.32 on a carcass basis. Nationally the hog market is 1.23 lower at 117.43. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 116.00 to 117.00. Barrows and gilts at Midwest markets are fully steady from 83.00 to 98.00 on a live basis.

The pork carcass cutout value is up .96 at 125.72 FOB plant.

Cash hog values continue to erode as packers continue to focus on slowing chain speed rather than to continue paying higher prices. Bids could continue to fall through the week with the expiration of April futures.