Market News

Midday cash livestock markets

Direct cash cattle markets are still pretty quiet, outside of some light trade in Texas at $117 live, down $3 from last week’s weighted average. Thursday, there was light trade in Kansas at $117 to $118, $2 to $3 lower than the previous week, and the week’s dressed trade in the North was mainly at $187 to $188, down $2 to $3 from last week’s weighted average in Nebraska. Asking prices for what’s left on the showlist are around $120 on the live basis in the South and $190 dressed in the North, with bids at $117 live and $186 to $187 dressed.

Boxed beef at midday was lower. Choice was down $.94 at $205.49 and Select was $.77 lower at $195.89.

At the Denison, Iowa feeder cattle auction, there was no comparison because of a lack of recent sales. 51% of this week’s offering were heifers and 92% of the total run weighed more than 600 pounds. Medium and Large 1 feeder steers weighing 800 to 875 pounds ranged from $152 to $156.75 and 100 head averaging 912 pounds brought $148 to $150.25. 106 head of Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers averaging 677 pounds sold at $152.25 to $153.50 and 720 to 780 pound heifers were reported at $146 to $150.25.

The USDA reports hay sales in Iowa were mostly steady with a few instances of lower prices. Good small squares of alfalfa and grass ranged from $130 to $155 with large squares at $120 to $140. Fair large squares of grass sold at $117 to $120 with large rounds at $70 to $90. Large squares of wheat straw brought $96 to $130. Missouri hay movement was light with light demand for moderate supplies leading to steady prices. Supreme quality alfalfa was reported at $170 to $120, with premium at $150 to $180 and good at $120 to $160. Good quality mixed hay ranged from $75 to $100 with fair to good at $50 to $80. For Nebraska, compared to the previous week, round bales of alfalfa were steady to $10 higher and squares were steady. Grassy hay was steady to $10 higher and ground and delivered hay was steady. Dehydrated alfalfa pellets were steady to $5 higher. The USDA says demand was good to very good for all available classes. In east/central Nebraska, premium large squares of alfalfa were reported at $180, with good large square bales at $150 and fair quality at $105 to $110. Good quality large rounds of alfalfa orchard grass brought $90 and good to premium large squares of grass hay sold at $115. 17% protein dehydrated alfalfa pellets ranged from $185 to $210. In the Platte Valley, good round bales of alfalfa came out at $80 to $85 with ground and delivered alfalfa at $95 to $110. 17% protein dehydrated alfalfa pellets sold at $185.

Cash hogs are steady to lower. The market continues to watch the seasonal availability of market ready numbers and wholesale business. Buyers have had success for most of the week moving the needed numbers at lower prices, with Saturday’s kill expected to be around 65,000 head and a weekly slaughter of about 2.2 million head.

Iowa/Southern Minnesota direct barrows and gilts opened $1.27 lower at $80 to $82.75 for a weighted average of $81.53, the Western Cornbelt is down $1.23 at $80 to $82.75 with an average of $81.53, and the Eastern Cornbelt is $.49 lower at $80.28 to $81.50 for an average of $80.62. National direct barrows and gilts are $1.05 lower at $80 to $82.75 with an average of $80.96. Butcher hogs at the Midwest cash markets are $2 lower at $64. Missouri direct butcher trade is steady at $77 to $78 on light to moderate supply and demand. Sows are steady at $54 to $68. Illinois direct sows are $1 higher at $62 to $73 with very good demand for moderate offerings. Barrows and gilts are weak at $51 to $58 on light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Boars range from $10 to $38.

Pork at midday was down $1.14 at $98.80. Loins, ribs, hams, and bellies were lower.