Iowa/Minnesota barrows and gilts are down .68 at 50.82 on a carcass basis, the West is .44 lower at 50.89, and the East is down .35 at 49.36. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 47.00 to 48.00. This week’s slaughter is expected to total well over 2.3 million head, and it will be interesting to see how wholesale demand handles the extra tonnage early next week. Saturday slaughter plans have slowly improved and should now total no smaller than 155,000 head.
Cattle country is very quiet. Given the trade on Tuesday and Wednesday, business in the North is more than likely finished for the week. Southern trade volume on Wednesday was relatively small, so a few more deals in that area are possible today. Asking prices on cattle left on the list in Kansas and Texas are generally around 85.00 to 86.00.
Choice boxed beef is down .56 at 139.05, and select is up .05 at 132.12 at midday.
Feeder cattle receipts at Missouri auctions this week totaled 20,811 head. Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers were steady to 3.00 lower, Holsteins less than 600 pounds were 2.00 to 5.00 lower, over 600 pounds steady to 3.00 lower. Demand and supply was moderate to light. Receipts this week were curtailed by extremely wet and muddy conditions. Not many of the receiving lots were in any shape to accept new purchases and only wanting to have calves that are sure enough weaned for several weeks, with all shots and correct paper work in order. Feeder steers medium and large 1, 761 head averaging 578 pounds at 95.65 per hundredweight. 460 heifers averaging 577 pounds brought 85.94.
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