A few cash cattle sales in Kansas and Nebraska are steady to weak compared to Wednesday

Market News

A few cash cattle sales in Kansas and Nebraska are steady to weak compared to Wednesday

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were lower on the recent trend in boxed beef, while waiting for the rest of the week’s direct business. October live was down $1.52 at $126.05 and December was $1.40 lower at $132.20. September feeders were $2.62 lower at $160.30 and October was down $3.00 at $165.05.

The direct cash cattle trade had several deals reported in Kansas Thursday at $123.00. That’s steady/weak with Wednesday’s trade, and fully steady with last week’s weighted average. Some scattered bids surfaced in Nebraska. Asking prices are around $124 plus in the South, and $204 plus in the North. More business should be taking place Friday. 

At the Mitchell, South Dakota Livestock Auction Thursday, 1,322 feeder cattle. Compared to last week, steers not well-tested. Heifers, which comprised the bigger load lots Thursday, sold $2.00 to $4.00 lower on fair demand for those weighing 800 to 900 pounds.

Medium and large frame #1 steers:
68 head, weighing 860 pounds, brought $155.00.

Medium and large frame #1 heifers:
246 head, weighing 834 to 846 pounds, brought $143.50 to $149.25.
207 head, weighing 968 to 996 pounds, brought $133.50 to $142.00.

Boxed beef closed lower. Choice boxes down 53 cents at $337.92. Selects down $2.60 at $304.97.

Thursday’s estimated cattle slaughter was 119,000, 5,000 more than last week, the same as last year.

Lean hog futures were mixed, mostly modestly higher, on spread trade and contracts’ discount to the cash index. October was down $.30 at $89.85 and December was $.15 lower at $82.32.

Cash hogs closed lower.

National Direct barrows and gilts were 62 cents lower for a weighted average of $88.91.

Earlier this week both Dorchester, Wisconsin and Garnavillo, Iowa reported butcher hogs steady at $70.00. Red Oak, Iowa Wednesday reported a steady hog market at $67.00. Private sources at the Walker, Iowa Sale Barn Wednesday reported hogs weighing 220 pounds and up brought $71.00 to $75.00.

Illinois Direct Slaughter Sows: 1075 head Thursday; slaughter sow prices were $1.00 lower, with moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. 

US 1-3 under 400 lbs.   $65.00-$72.00
                  400-500 lbs. $69.00-$75.00
                  500-600 lbs.  $74.00-$78.00 
                  Over 600 lbs. $78.00-$82.00  
   Boars: under 300 lbs.  $30.00-$35.00
over 300 lbs.                     $10.00-$12.00
Illinois barrows and gilts $1.00 lower, with moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings: $56.00 to $64.00.

Wholesale pork carcasses closed $2.73 higher at $109.27.

Estimated hog slaughter is 478,000, 2,000 more than last week, 2,000 fewer than last year.