Missouri Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle Report - April 03, 2026

Week:  480        Last Week:  No sales          Last Year:  320

These prices acquired from Missouri producers, Trading as of this
Friday morning April 03, trade so far this Friday morning is light
to moderate with Flat dressed sales trading in a wide range from
8.00-15.00 higher at 380.00-385.00 than last week's bid and Grid
dressed sales 10.00 higher than last week's bid at 390.00. Fed
Cattle prices moved quickly higher this week as futures found strength
and traded mostly 10.00 higher from 245.00-246.00 in the North, with
dressed sales up to 385.00. In the Southern Plains trade is mostly
from 245.00-246.00, mostly 7.00 higher. Last week's slaughter was
520,000, up 17,000 from previous week and a whopping 89,000 less than
a year ago. Comprehensive carcass weights the weighted average for
both steers and heifers were at 957 lbs, down 9 lbs from previous week
and 42 lbs above last year at this time. Packers have sharply decreased
slaughter levels over the last several weeks which has boxed-beef prices
rising, but over the last week to 10 days boxes have found resistance
and moved lower. Choice boxed-beef on Thursday closed 4.84 lower at 389.59
and Select down 4.89 at 387.70 with a Choice-Select spread narrowing to
just 1.88. Compared to last Thursday’s close with Choice at 389.85 and
Select at 391.66. Slaughter Cattle under Federal inspection on Thursday
was estimated at 429, 000, last week 412,000 and last year 469,000.
The hide and offal value from a typical slaughter steer on Thursday was
13.03 per cwt down .13 cents 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

Steers and Heifers (80 percent Choice) 9 loads Wednesday thru Friday morning 380.00-385.00

Grid Dressed Sales: (over 90 percent Choice) 3 loads Thursday 390.00.

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