Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 3.00 to 5.00 lower, Holstein steers 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Slaughter cows steady to 1.00 higher, bulls steady compared to Monday's sale. Very light demand from packer buyers for this week's limited fed cattle offering. Few packer buyers participating, most buyers were inactive and did not even bid. Only two full loads of steers, 1 full load of heifers with the balance being small packages and part loads. Weighing condition about average, hides are much cleaner now as cattle have slicked off their winter hair and rubbed off the old, dry tag. Estimated dressed cost looked to be from 183.00-187.00. Live Cattle futures managed to post a gain but packers maintain their leverage over the market and are unwilling to give more in spite of huge profit margins. Choice boxed beef just .20 lower this morning at 222.80 leaving a spread of almost 40.00 between the boxed beef price and dressed cost of the cattle.
Slaughter lambs over 100 lbs 9.00 to 10.00 lower, lambs under 100 lbs sharply lower. Slaughter ewes 5.00 to 10.00 lower. Feeder lambs not well compared, much lower undertones noted. Light to moderate demand for slaughter lambs, light demand for slaughter ewes and feeder lambs. Few farmer feeders in attendance to bid on feeder lambs as these producers have their full attention turned to getting their crop planted. A large amount of the lambs under 100 lbs went to slaughter.
| Class | Grade | Dressing | Avg wt | $/cwt | $/head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls | — | Low | 1,985 | 86.98 | 1,727 | 6thin |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | Average | 1,586 | 67.85 | 1,076 | 51 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | Low | 1,334 | 60.22 | 803 | 36 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | Average | 1,221 | 53.34 | 651 | 26 |
| Dairy Steers | Choice | Average | 1,414 | 85.84 | 1,214 | 158 |
| Dairy Steers | Select and Choice | Average | 1,399 | 81.02 | 1,133 | 11 |
| Heifers | Select and Choice | Average | 1,156 | 125.50 | 1,451 | 25 |
| Heifers | Choice | Average | 1,307 | 114.55 | 1,497 | 96 |
| Steers | Choice | Average | 1,406 | 115.33 | 1,622 | 91 |
| Steers | Select and Choice | Average | 1,305 | 113.39 | 1,480 | 39 |
| Steers | Select | Average | 1,146 | 110.00 | 1,261 | 6thin |
| Class | Grade / description | Weight | Avg wt | Price | Range | Per head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls | — | — | 1,445 | 80.00/cwt | 80.00–80.00 | 1,156 | 1 |
| Bulls | — | — | 2,093 | 88.38/cwt | 85.00–91.00 | 1,850 | 5 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | — | 1,185 | 56.00/cwt | 53.00–60.00 | 664 | 14 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | — | 1,264 | 50.23/cwt | 46.00–53.50 | 635 | 12 |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | — | 1,511 | 70.25/cwt | 66.00–73.00 | 1,061 | 28 |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | — | 1,705 | 59.35/cwt | 54.00–62.00 | 1,012 | 15 |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | — | 1,624 | 75.41/cwt | 74.00–76.00 | 1,225 | 8 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | — | 1,350 | 58.03/cwt | 53.00–63.50 | 783 | 23 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | — | 1,305 | 64.10/cwt | 60.00–68.00 | 837 | 13 |
| Heifers | Choice | — | 1,313 | 114.92/cwt | 114.00–115.00 | 1,509 | 90 |
| Heifers | Choice | — | 1,218 | 109.00/cwt | 109.00–109.00 | 1,328 | 6 |
| Steers | Choice | — | 1,406 | 115.33/cwt | 113.00–116.00 | 1,622 | 91 |
| Heifers | Select and ChoiceValue Added | — | 1,156 | 125.50/cwt | 125.50–125.50 | 1,451 | 25 |
| Dairy Steers | Select and Choice | — | 1,399 | 81.02/cwt | 80.50–83.50 | 1,133 | 11 |
| Dairy Steers | Choice | — | 1,414 | 85.84/cwt | 84.50–87.50 | 1,214 | 158 |
| Steers | Select and ChoiceReturn to Feed | — | 1,339 | 122.00/cwt | 122.00–122.00 | 1,634 | 6 |
| Steers | Select and Choice | — | 1,299 | 111.83/cwt | 108.00–115.00 | 1,453 | 33 |
| Steers | Select | — | 1,146 | 110.00/cwt | 110.00–110.00 | 1,261 | 6 |
Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 3.00 to 5.00 lower, Holstein steers 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Slaughter cows steady to 1.00 higher, bulls steady compared to Monday's sale. Very light demand from packer buyers for this week's limited fed cattle offering. Few packer buyers participating, most buyers were inactive and did not even bid. Only two full loads of steers, 1 full load of heifers with the balance being small packages and part loads. Weighing condition about average, hides are much cleaner now as cattle have slicked off their winter hair and rubbed off the old, dry tag. Estimated dressed cost looked to be from 183.00-187.00. Live Cattle futures managed to post a gain but packers maintain their leverage over the market and are unwilling to give more in spite of huge profit margins. Choice boxed beef just .20 lower this morning at 222.80 leaving a spread of almost 40.00 between the boxed beef price and dressed cost of the cattle.
Slaughter lambs over 100 lbs 9.00 to 10.00 lower, lambs under 100 lbs sharply lower. Slaughter ewes 5.00 to 10.00 lower. Feeder lambs not well compared, much lower undertones noted. Light to moderate demand for slaughter lambs, light demand for slaughter ewes and feeder lambs. Few farmer feeders in attendance to bid on feeder lambs as these producers have their full attention turned to getting their crop planted. A large amount of the lambs under 100 lbs went to slaughter.
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 1 | — | 1,445 | 80.00 | 80.00 |
| 5 | — | 2,093 | 85.00–91.00 | 88.38 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 14 | — | 1,185 | 53.00–60.00 | 56.00 |
| 12 | — | 1,264 | 46.00–53.50 | 50.23 |
| Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 28 | — | 1,511 | 66.00–73.00 | 70.25 |
| 15 | — | 1,705 | 54.00–62.00 | 59.35 |
| 8 | — | 1,624 | 74.00–76.00 | 75.41 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 23 | — | 1,350 | 53.00–63.50 | 58.03 |
| 13 | — | 1,305 | 60.00–68.00 | 64.10 |
| Heifers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 90 | — | 1,313 | 114.00–115.00 | 114.92 |
| 6 | — | 1,218 | 109.00 | 109.00 |
| Heifers — Select and Choice · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 25 | — | 1,156 | 125.50 | 125.50 |
| Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 91 | — | 1,406 | 113.00–116.00 | 115.33 |
| Steers — Select and Choice · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 6 | — | 1,339 | 122.00 | 122.00 |
| Steers — Select and Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 33 | — | 1,299 | 108.00–115.00 | 111.83 |
| Steers — Select$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 6 | — | 1,146 | 110.00 | 110.00 |
| Dairy Steers — Select and Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 11 | — | 1,399 | 80.50–83.50 | 81.02 |
| Dairy Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 158 | — | 1,414 | 84.50–87.50 | 85.84 |