JC_LS135 Jefferson City, MO Fri Mar 22, 2019 MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Missouri Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle (week end 03-22-2019) Confirmed Sales: Week to date: 0 Last week: 360 Last Year: 160 ( These prices acquired from Missouri producers ) Trading from late last Friday through Friday morning remains light to inactive as bids and asking prices remain apart as asking prices are higher this week. Cash cattle trade remains a long way off it seems, with trade likely to wait until Friday afternoon after the COF report is issued. The big news in the livestock industry has been the Live Hog contracts that have surged near 13.00 higher this past week. On March 7 the July Lean Hog contract closed at 77.95 on Thursday this week it closed at 97.57. Lean Hog contracts have found lighting in a bottle with the African Swine Fever in China looking as if it is far more extensive than reports suggested; potentially causing a pork shortage. Lean hog contracts will eventually find an exhausting point but for now the funds are running to the hog pit. This huge rally has spilled over into the cattle futures especially the deferred months and along with flooding in Nebraska, feedlot conditions and lighter carcass weights could be a positive factor for fed cattle prices, but packers will remain disciplined in their purchases. Boxed-beef prices last week looked like they could be topping for a while but this week have continued to find support. Choice boxed-beef closed Thursday .64 cents higher at 229.31 with Select down .26 cents at 218.37 compared to last Friday’s close with Choice at 226.99 and Select at 217.34. The hide and offal value from a typical slaughter steer on Thursday was estimated at 9.10 per cwt live, up .02 cent when compared to Wednesday’s value. Live Sales: Slaughter steers and heifers: (over 90 percent Choice) No Sales (Note: Weighing conditions some plant delivered weights and some net weights FOB feedlot after a 4 percent shrink. Dressed Carcass Sales: (Paid on Hot Carcass Weights) Delivered or Picked up (Weight only) Steers and Heifers: (80 percent Choice) No Sales (Grid) Grade and Weight Carcass: (over 80 percent Choice) No Sales Source: MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Service, Mexico, MO Greg Harrison, Market Reporter 573-751-5618 24 hour recorded report 573-522-9244 www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/JC_LS135.txt 1045cdt cc