Market News

Midday cash livestock markets

USDA Mandatory reported a light cattle trade on light to moderate demand in Colorado yesterday from 1.00 to 4.00 lower from 156.00 to 156.50. All other areas were quiet. There are a few bids in Nebraska on a live basis today from 250.00 to 252. Packer inquiry should start to improve as the day progresses. Asking prices are around 162.00 in the South and 260.00 in the North.

Boxed beef cutout values are firm to higher with the choice up 1.03 at 247.52, and select is .25 higher at 245.18

Feeder cattle receipts at the Huss Platte Valley Auction in Nebraska totaled 3178 feeder cattle on Wednesday. Compared to last week, steers under 700 pounds sold steady to 10.00 higher and those over 700 pounds sold 5.00 lower. The heifers weighing less than 650 pounds were steady to 10.00 higher and those over 650 pounds were 5.00 lower. Demand was good from beginning to end from a good size crowd of buyers. Feeder steers averaging 779 pounds brought 208.95 per hundredweight. 772 pound replacement heifers traded at 202.50.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade opened .56 higher at 66.60 weighted average on a carcass basis, the West was up .52 at 66.51, and the National market is .64 lower at 64.36. The Eastern hog market is not reported due to confidentiality. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is 2.00 to 3.00 higher from 54.00 to 63.00. Midwest hogs on a live basis are steady to 2.00 higher from 36.00 to 42.00.

The pork carcass cutout value continues to slide lower at 67.89 down 1.58 FOB plant.

For the week ending Feb. 21, Iowa barrows and gilts averaged 284.6 pounds, 1.2 pounds lighter than the previous week and only 2.4 pounds heavier than 2014. Perhaps aggressive marketing and/or extreme winter cold are working to limit late winter tonnage.