Market News

Wednesday midday cash livestock

Direct cash cattle markets remain pretty quiet, but packer inquiry has improved in some areas. There are bids at $165 to $167 on the dressed in Nebraska with asking prices holding around $107+ in the South and $168 to $170 in the North. We could see some business today, but widespread trade will most likely wait until Thursday.

Boxed beef at midday was sharply higher with Choice up $1.44 at $162.71 and Select $1.63 higher at $156.40.

At the slaughter cattle auction in Dunlap Iowa, steers and heifers were up $3 from last week. Choice 2 to 4 steers sold at $100 to $103.50 and heifers ranged from $100 to $103.

Cash hogs are steady to higher with packers continuing their generally solid demand to fill their late week slaughter needs. At the terminals, butchers are steady to $1 higher at $45.50 to $48. Missouri direct butchers are steady to $1 higher at $62 to $66 and sows are unchanged at $39 to $47. Illinois direct sows are mostly steady at $39 to $47.

Eastern Cornbelt barrows and gilts opened $.80 higher with a weighted average of $69.77, the Western Belt was up $4.33 at $73.65 and Iowa/Southern Minnesota was $4.28 higher at $73.77.

Pork trade at midday was slow with light demand and mostly moderate offerings.