Market News

Friday midday cash livestock markets

Cattle country is quiet so far on Friday following light trade on both Wednesday and Thursday. Northern dressed deals ranged from 240.00 to 242.00, while Southern live cattle traded from 152.00 to 153.00. Asking prices on the few cattle left on the showlists are around 154.00 to 155.00 South and 244.00 to 245.00 in the North.

Boxed beef cutout values are lower with the choice down .26 at 250.20, and select .75 lower at 240.07.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Valentine Livestock Auction at Valentine, Nebraska totaled 3970 head. There has been no recent test of the market so a trend was not reported. Demand was good with not many buyers in the seats, but there was high internet activity. 413 steers averaging 821 pounds averaged 215.76 per hundredweight. 358 heifers weighing 880 traded at 203.89.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota and Western direct trade areas are not reported due to confidentiality. Eastern hogs are 2.55 lower at 94.22 weighted average on a carcass basis, nationally the market is 2.04 lower also at 94.22. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 95.00 to 98.00. Barrows and gilts at Midwest markets are lightly tested at 1.00 to 5.00 lower from 63.00 to 70.00 live.

The pork carcass cutout value is .58 higher at 106.76 FOB plant. The belly primal was over 17.00 higher.

The pork carcass value lost another buck yesterday, pressured by all primals except the ham. From Thursday to Thursday, the cut-out dropped $10.01, led by a $20.53 crash in the belly primal and an $11.31 loss in the ham primal.