Market News

Midday cash livestock prices

The cash cattle trade remains unestablished on Tuesday with bids and asking prices poorly defined. Judging by the new showlists distributed on Monday, fed supplies remain very manageable. Numbers are smaller, in most areas except Nebraska with larger numbers on the lists. Overall the late month offering appears somewhat smaller than last week. Early estimates of this week’s cattle kill are around 601,500 head, 1.1% higher than last week, and 2% above last year. Chain speed seems set to steadily accelerate over the next 60 to 90 days.

Boxed beef cutout values are mixed, choice beef is down .20 at 218.47, but select is 2.13 higher at 206.42.

St. Joseph, Missouri Stockyards had receipts of 826 cattle on Monday. Compared to last week, slaughter cows sold unevenly steady with slaughter bulls sharply higher. A special bred cow sale was also held. Slaughter cows, breaking 70 to 80 percent lean average dressing 62.00 to 70.50. Slaughter bulls, yield grade 1-2 weighing 1100 to 2560 pounds 88.00 to 95.00 per hundredweight. Bred heifers medium and large 1-2 weighing 800 to 1215 pounds, 3 to 9 month bred $1140.00 to 1375.00 per head.

Sioux Falls Regional Livestock at Worthing, South Dakota had receipts of 2799 cattle on Monday. Compared to last week, feeder steers were mostly steady with instances of up to 4.00 higher. Feeder heifers were 2.00 To 4.00 higher with the exception of those weighing 900 to 950 pounds 5.00 lower. Demand was moderate overall as the majority of the offerings sold in small packages and part loads. Feeder steers medium and large 1 weighing 742 pounds averaged 150.21 per hundredweight. 772 pound heifers brought 131.44.

Rock Valley, Iowa Hay Auction had just nineteen loads on Monday. Compared to last week the market was mostly steady on light offerings. This was the last Monday sale until November. Thursday sales continue throughout the year. Good large squares of alfalfa brought 100.00 to 107.50 per ton. Good large squares of grass at 75.00.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade are .29 higher at 54.24 weighted average on a carcass basis, the west is up .45 at 54.22, and nationally the market is .27 higher at 53.72. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is fully steady from 47.00 to 49.00.

The pork carcass cutout value is down .51 at 73.98 FOB plant. Ribs are higher, but bellies are lower.

This week’s hog kill should again be substantial, possibly totaling close to 2,312,000 head, as much as one-percent more than last week and eight-percent greater than last year.