Jefferson City, MO  Friday, January 17, 2025  MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News

Missouri Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle

Week to date: 240          Last Week: 120          Last Year 320

These prices acquired from Missouri producers, Trading as of this Friday
morning January 17, light trade this week with most producers passing
bids. Flat dressed sales are trading 2.00 higher at 322.00, with grid
dressed sales inactive as producers are passing bids.  Mid-week trading
developed in the Southern Plains at mostly steady prices at 201.00, with
the North and Western Corn Belt trading from 202.00-205.00 and dressed
sales 2.00 higher at 322.00.  Packers continue to need cattle and cattle
feeders still have the leverage as they continue to feed cattle for
extended days and feel no urgency to sell cattle.  Comprehensive carcass
weights the weighted average for both steers and heifers this week at 930
lbs, 7 lbs heavier from the previous week and 29 lbs above last year.
The packer’s only defense to slow prices is to manage slaughter levels to
keep box beef cutout values elevated.  Choice boxed beef still showing
strength with the Select carcass price closing rapidly on the spread
between choice but continues to look top heavy on Choice as on Thursday
closed .73 cents higher at 333.41 with Select closing 1.34 higher at
319.38 with the Choice-Select spread narrowing to 14.03 compared to last
Friday’s close with Choice at 332.84 and Select at 314.14.  Slaughter
Cattle under Federal inspection on Thursday was at 488,000, last week
474,000 and last year 454,000.  The hide and offal value from a typical
slaughter steer on Thursday was estimated at 11.36 per cwt live,
unchanged when compared to Wednesday’s value.

Live Sales:
Slaughter steers and heifers: (over 90 percent Choice)

(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

Steers and Heifers (80 percent Choice) Thursday 6 loads Flat 322.00.

Grid Dressed Sales:  (over 80 percent Choice)  No Sales

Source:  MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Service, Perry, MO
         Greg Harrison, Market Reporter