Livestock report
By NewsPress Now
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 249,600 33,500 24,600 307,700
Last Week: 210,400 32,100 7,100 249,600
Year Ago: 259,100 35,500 35,700 330,300
Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold unevenly steady 2.00 lower to 2.00 higher. Demand was good to very good, especially on calves as the fall run is fully underway.
The latest drought monitor showed 77.50% of the Contiguous U.S. impacted by dryness or drought. Multiple states have reported farmers needing to adjust normal operations due dusty dry conditions.
These conditions can make keeping calves healthy a bit more challenging, causing farmers to consider bringing calves to market quicker than they might have otherwise anticipated.
Futures market lost some ground this week with live cattle closing 0.07 to 0.98 lower and feeder cattle contracts 1.13 to 2.20 lower for the week.
Live sales of negotiated cash fed cattle trade in TX/OK/NM sold 1.00 higher at 188.00, and sales in Kansas were 2.00 higher at 188.00. In Nebraska, live sales sold 1.00 higher at 188.00, while the dressed sales sold steady at 296.00.
The choice/select spread reached 26.76 on Wednesday, which is the widest gap since the end of 2023. Choice boxed beef closed the week 9.43 higher at 320.65 while Select was 5.48 higher at 294.20 for the same period.
Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 608K, 22K higher than last week and 30K less than a year ago. Auction volume this week included 40% weighing over 600 lbs and 38% heifers.
