Sioux Falls Regional Livestock

Compared to last week: A much larger offering of slaughter steers and heifers, too few offered last week to make a full comparison, lower undertones evident. Moderate to good demand for this large offering of long time fed, very high quality grading, eye appealing steers and heifers. The market was under pressure this week as the country trade was lower last week and the CME Live Cattle hovers around 199.00. The market was not as active as it's been all winter long, the market is still at a good level for those cattle feeders selling but packers are trying to limit their losses. Cattle were carrying some tag at times as the weather has rebounded from -20 to 50 plus degrees.

A much larger offering of slaughter lambs, lambs weighing 80-110 lbs 5.00 to 15.00 lower, heavier weights 10.00 to 20.00 higher. Very good demand for all weights of slaughter lambs, but with the larger offering packers did not have to compete as hard as they did last week on those 80-110 lbs. Slaughter ewes sold with higher undertones. Very good demand for slaughter ewes as there was a lot of competition to buy those ewes. Good demand for the bred ewes.