Market News

Midday cash livestock prices

Cattle country is quiet on Monday with both buyers and sellers busy counting heads. Bids and asking prices have yet to be established. Last week’s Southern live trade was mostly $2.00 to 3.00 lower at 160.00, while Northern dressed business ranged from 256.00 to 260.00, generally $3.00 to 4.00 lower than the previous week.

Choice boxed beef is .92 higher in the morning report at 258.71, and select is up 1.59 at 252.56.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Joplin Regional Stockyards totaled 4500 head today. Compared to last week steer and heifer calves opened steady, yearlings were not well tested early. The demand is good and the supply is moderate. Feeder steers medium and large 1 weighing 500 to 600 pounds traded from 240.00 to 290.00 per hundredweight. 5 to 6 weight heifers brought 227.00 to 249.00.

Barrows and gilts in the major direct trade areas are not reported due to confidentiality. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 50.00 to 59.00. Midwest hogs on a live basis are steady to 1.00 higher from 39.00 to 50.00.

The pork carcass cutout value FOB plant is up .10 at 68.09.

Commercial pork production once again last week topped 2014 by more than 10%. The evidence seems to be building that the March 1 hogs and pig report was understated.