Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 1.00 to 2.00 lower, Holstein steers steady. Moderate demand for this large offering of high quality grading, very attractive, hard fed steers and heifers. Packer buyers were determined to buy cattle cheaper this week and that is just what they did, some packers did not participate while others just picked around the edges. Two way buyers were active again buying steers weighing 1425 lbs and lighter as the CME Live Cattle contracts remain premium to the cash market. The quality was outstanding again this week and the weighing condition was fair as cattle had to endure a below zero night, however hides were dirty to very dirty at times which was hard on the dressing percents. Overall, estimated dressed cost looked to be from 186.00-189.00. No reported trade in the country as packers are bidding lower as boxed beef values continue to slip. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 lower compared to Monday's lower market, bulls sold with a higher undertone on improved quality.
Slaughter lambs 3.00 to 5.00 higher, slaughter ewes mostly steady, feeder lambs not well tested last week for a comparison. Good to very good demand for slaughter lambs this week, improved demand on lambs under 100 lbs especially on hair lambs. Moderate to good demand for slaughter ewes. Very good demand for the few strings of feeder lambs offered, once again feeder lamb buyers had to compete on the light lambs with packer buyers in order to get any bought away from them.
| Class | Grade | Dressing | Avg wt | $/cwt | $/head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls | — | Average | 1,880 | 74.57 | 1,402 | 13 |
| Cows | Premium White 65-75% | High | 1,725 | 75.61 | 1,304 | 11 |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | High | 1,594 | 54.53 | 869 | 36 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | Average | 1,286 | 52.36 | 673 | 56 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | Average | 1,181 | 37.75 | 446 | 70 |
| Dairy Steers | Choice | Average | 1,431 | 87.48 | 1,252 | 39 |
| Heifers | Choice | Low | 1,381 | 115.93 | 1,601 | 691 |
| Steers | Select | Average | 1,335 | 120.11 | 1,604 | 109 |
| Steers | Select and Choice | Average | 1,382 | 117.23 | 1,620 | 256 |
| Steers | Choice | Average | 1,503 | 116.48 | 1,751 | 539 |
| Class | Grade / description | Weight | Avg wt | Price | Range | Per head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy Steers | Choice | — | 1,431 | 87.48/cwt | 86.00–90.00 | 1,252 | 39 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | — | 1,249 | 51.22/cwt | 46.00–57.00 | 640 | 35 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | — | 1,309 | 60.75/cwt | 59.00–64.00 | 795 | 14 |
| Cows | Boner 80-85% | — | 1,424 | 41.26/cwt | 38.00–45.00 | 588 | 7 |
| Bulls | — | — | 1,998 | 77.61/cwt | 73.50–80.00 | 1,551 | 5 |
| Bulls | — | — | 1,625 | 66.97/cwt | 64.00–71.00 | 1,088 | 5 |
| Steers | Choice | — | 1,451 | 116.77/cwt | 116.00–118.00 | 1,694 | 269 |
| Steers | Select | — | 1,254 | 118.50/cwt | 118.50–118.50 | 1,486 | 13 |
| Steers | Choice | — | 1,698 | 108.00/cwt | 108.00–108.00 | 1,834 | 9 |
| Steers | Choice | — | 1,550 | 116.47/cwt | 115.00–117.75 | 1,805 | 261 |
| Cows | Premium White 65-75% | — | 1,440 | 81.50/cwt | 81.50–81.50 | 1,174 | 3 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | — | 1,202 | 44.17/cwt | 39.00–49.00 | 531 | 17 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | — | 1,155 | 36.99/cwt | 32.00–42.00 | 427 | 33 |
| Cows | Premium White 65-75% | — | 1,930 | 70.50/cwt | 70.50–70.50 | 1,361 | 1 |
| Heifers | Choice | — | 1,384 | 112.61/cwt | 112.00–114.00 | 1,559 | 90 |
| Heifers | Choice | — | 1,381 | 116.43/cwt | 114.00–117.75 | 1,608 | 601 |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | — | 1,576 | 69.88/cwt | 69.50–73.00 | 1,101 | 9 |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | — | 1,541 | 61.75/cwt | 61.00–63.50 | 952 | 7 |
| Cows | Breaker 75-80% | — | 1,621 | 45.10/cwt | 40.00–53.00 | 731 | 20 |
| Cows | Premium White 65-75% | — | 1,818 | 73.81/cwt | 73.00–74.50 | 1,342 | 7 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | — | 1,266 | 56.19/cwt | 54.00–59.50 | 711 | 5 |
| Cows | Lean 85-90% | — | 1,188 | 26.02/cwt | 21.00–29.00 | 309 | 15 |
| Steers | SelectReturn to Feed | — | 1,346 | 120.33/cwt | 120.25–120.50 | 1,620 | 96 |
| Steers | Select and ChoiceReturn to Feed | — | 1,382 | 117.23/cwt | 115.00–119.50 | 1,620 | 256 |
| Bulls | — | — | 2,110 | 82.15/cwt | 80.50–85.00 | 1,733 | 3 |
Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 1.00 to 2.00 lower, Holstein steers steady. Moderate demand for this large offering of high quality grading, very attractive, hard fed steers and heifers. Packer buyers were determined to buy cattle cheaper this week and that is just what they did, some packers did not participate while others just picked around the edges. Two way buyers were active again buying steers weighing 1425 lbs and lighter as the CME Live Cattle contracts remain premium to the cash market. The quality was outstanding again this week and the weighing condition was fair as cattle had to endure a below zero night, however hides were dirty to very dirty at times which was hard on the dressing percents. Overall, estimated dressed cost looked to be from 186.00-189.00. No reported trade in the country as packers are bidding lower as boxed beef values continue to slip. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 lower compared to Monday's lower market, bulls sold with a higher undertone on improved quality.
Slaughter lambs 3.00 to 5.00 higher, slaughter ewes mostly steady, feeder lambs not well tested last week for a comparison. Good to very good demand for slaughter lambs this week, improved demand on lambs under 100 lbs especially on hair lambs. Moderate to good demand for slaughter ewes. Very good demand for the few strings of feeder lambs offered, once again feeder lamb buyers had to compete on the light lambs with packer buyers in order to get any bought away from them.
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 39 | — | 1,431 | 86.00–90.00 | 87.48 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 35 | — | 1,249 | 46.00–57.00 | 51.22 |
| 14 | — | 1,309 | 59.00–64.00 | 60.75 |
| 7 | — | 1,424 | 38.00–45.00 | 41.26 |
| Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 3 | — | 1,440 | 81.50 | 81.50 |
| 1 | — | 1,930 | 70.50 | 70.50 |
| 7 | — | 1,818 | 73.00–74.50 | 73.81 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 17 | — | 1,202 | 39.00–49.00 | 44.17 |
| 33 | — | 1,155 | 32.00–42.00 | 36.99 |
| 5 | — | 1,266 | 54.00–59.50 | 56.19 |
| 15 | — | 1,188 | 21.00–29.00 | 26.02 |
| Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 9 | — | 1,576 | 69.50–73.00 | 69.88 |
| 7 | — | 1,541 | 61.00–63.50 | 61.75 |
| 20 | — | 1,621 | 40.00–53.00 | 45.10 |
| Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 5 | — | 1,998 | 73.50–80.00 | 77.61 |
| 5 | — | 1,625 | 64.00–71.00 | 66.97 |
| 3 | — | 2,110 | 80.50–85.00 | 82.15 |
| Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 269 | — | 1,451 | 116.00–118.00 | 116.77 |
| 9 | — | 1,698 | 108.00 | 108.00 |
| 261 | — | 1,550 | 115.00–117.75 | 116.47 |
| Steers — Select$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 13 | — | 1,254 | 118.50 | 118.50 |
| Steers — Select · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 96 | — | 1,346 | 120.25–120.50 | 120.33 |
| Steers — Select and Choice · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 256 | — | 1,382 | 115.00–119.50 | 117.23 |
| Heifers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 90 | — | 1,384 | 112.00–114.00 | 112.61 |
| 601 | — | 1,381 | 114.00–117.75 | 116.43 |