Market News

Midday cash livestock prices

For the first time in over a month cattle traded on Wednesday. The country is slow to start today following that light trade in most areas yesterday. Live sales in the South trended generally $3.00 lower than last week from 157.00 to 158.00. Northern business in Nebraska and Iowa was $3.00 to 4.00 lower on a dressed basis from 252.00 to 253.00. Current asking prices are around 158.00 in the South and 255.00 plus in the North.

Boxed beef cutout values are firm to higher with the choice up .21 at 260.27, and the select is 1.67 higher at 251.19.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Huss Platte Valley Auction in Nebraska totaled 4127 head. Compared to two weeks ago steers under 800 pounds sold steady to 5.00 higher, over 800 pounds $5.00 to 6.00 lower. Heifers under 700 pounds were unevenly steady, over 700 pounds steady to 5.00 lower. Demand was good on offerings suited for summer turn out. Feeder steers averaging 773 pounds brought 227.91 per hundredweight. Heifers weighing 721 pounds traded at 212.34.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade are .13 higher, the West is up .15 with both at 63.12 weighted average on a carcass basis. Eastern and national hogs are not reported due to confidentiality. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is steady from 50.00 to 58.00. Midwest hogs on a live basis are steady to an instance of $4.00 lower from 39.00 to 46.00.

The pork carcass cutout value is sharply higher, up 3.68 at 71.16 FOB plant. Only the belly primal was lower.

Frozen pork as of March 31 totaled 668.6 million pounds, 16% greater than 2014 but 3% less than the prior month and generally below private anticipations.