Market News

Midday cash livestock markets

Direct cattle business is underway. Very light trade is reported at $360 on the dressed basis in eastern Nebraska, $4 higher than last week’s weighted average, with even lighter live business in Nebraska at $232. Activity will pick up steam as the day goes on. Asking prices are $232 live, with bids at $228 to $232 live and $360 dressed. Very light trade was reported late Wednesday at $230 to $230.50 live in Kansas and $360 dressed in Nebraska, not enough to establish a trend at that time.

Earlier in the week, at Huss Livestock in Nebraska, compared to the last reported test, feeder steers weighing more than 600 pounds were steady to $10 higher and heifers weighing more than 600 pounds were steady to $5 lower. The USDA says demand was good with most of the run long time weaned and vaccinated calves, with the rest bawling calves, the majority of which had received fall vaccinations. Receipts were down on the year. 61% of the feeder run were steers and 81% of all feeders on offer weighed more than 600 pounds. Medium and Large 1 feeder steers weighing 700 to 800 pounds sold at $369 to $399 and 800-to-900-pound steers ranged from $341 to $369.25. Medium and Large 1 replacement heifers weighing 650 to 700 pounds brought $383 to $388 and 700-to-800-pound replacement heifers were reported at $358.50 to $364.50.

Boxed beef at midday is higher with very light movement. Choice is up $1.25 at $348.70 and Select beef is $4.56 higher at $346.94, narrowing the spread to $1.76.

Cash hogs are steady with light opening negotiated numbers at the major direct markets. Buyers have been less aggressive over the past couple of weeks due to the holidays, with interest expected to ramp up early next week as more operations move back to full schedules. Wholesale pork ended 2025 on a weak note and while there are some gains to kick off 2026, the market needs to see sustained domestic demand.

The major direct markets were not reported due to confidentiality. The five-day rolling average for national direct barrows and gilts is $69.40, with Iowa/Southern Minnesota at $69.08 and the Western Corn Belt at $69.81. Butcher hogs at Dorchester, Wisconsin are steady at $55. Illinois direct sows are steady at $34 to $46 with moderate demand for light offerings. Barrows and gilts are steady at $40 to $48 on moderate demand and offerings. Boars range from $12 to $22.

Pork at midday is up $1.97 at $95.71. Butts, picnics, ribs, hams, and bellies are sharply higher, with loins a penny lower.