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Midday cash livestock markets

Direct cash cattle trade is quiet in the early going today following light to moderate business the last two days. Asking prices for cattle left on showlists is $136 plus in the South and $226 plus in the North. This week’s deals have been marked $1 lower on the week in the South at $135.

Boxed beef is lower at midday. Choice is $.42 lower at $267.57 and Select is $1.34 lower at $240.47.

At the Bassett Livestock Auction in Nebraska, compared to the last test, steers from 550 to 1050 pounds traded steady, 800-pound steers were $6 lower, 900-to-1000-pound steers were $2 to $3 lower. Feeder heifers from 500 to 700 pounds sold steady to $8 higher, while 750-to-850-pound heifers sold $5 to $9 lower. USDA says demand was very good with supply down from last test. Feeder supply included 54 percent steers and 89 percent of the offering was over 600 pounds. Medium and Large 1 feeder steers weighing 806 to 837 pounds brought $181 to $195, and feeder steers from 907 to 949 pounds brought $180 to $192.50; Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers weighing 655 to 688 pounds brought $181.50 to $198, and feeder heifers from 805 to 829 pounds brought $165.25 to $179.25.

Cash hogs are sharply lower at midday. Many buyers have slowed their procurement efforts on the day after pushing up bids to secure the needed near-term numbers Wednesday. Supplies remain tight in much of the region.

Butcher hogs at the Midwest cash markets are steady at $75.

At Illinois, slaughter sow prices are $3 higher ranging from $58 to $70 with moderate demand for moderate offerings. Barrow and gilt prices are steady at $74 to $83 on moderate demand for moderate offerings.

Barrows and gilts at the National Daily Direct are $11.20 lower with a base range of $115 to $130 for a weighted average of $117.86; the Eastern Cornbelt has a weighted average of $118.47; the Iowa/Minnesota and Western Cornbelt were not reported due to confidentiality.

Pork values are higher at midday, up $2.16 at $128.95. Bellies are up more than $11; loins and ribs are higher; Butts, picnics, and hams are lower.