Jeff Swenson, DATCP’s livestock and meat specialist prepared the following report. This report draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA reports.
Retail sales for the Labor Day weekend were reported to be very strong. Wholesale prices had a strong undertone early in the week as retail outlets were looking to restock. Packers put together a larger harvest run last week leading up to the holiday shortened week.
The estimated harvest was 629,000 head, 3,000 more than the previous week and 13,000 less than the same week last year. Show lists are expected to be larger this week and packers were buying for next week’s full production schedule. The Choice beef carcass cutout was $2.08 lower last week to average $314.96.
Beef cow harvest is running lower than last year, but the number of dairy cows going to market has been increasing slightly. This is likely the result of milk prices continuing to drop and market cow prices remaining strong.
Canada reports a 1.5% drop in beef cow inventory year-over-year. That makes the U.S./Canada combined inventory 2.5% lower than a year ago. It is estimated the U.S. feeder cattle supply is 3.6% below year ago levels and 2.5 million head smaller than 2018. #
All classes of cattle were steady to lower this week at Wisconsin and surrounding state auction markets. Beef breed fed steers and heifers brought $140 to $177/cwt. High Choice and Prime steers and heifers brought $178 to $188/cwt.
The Holstein steer market was steady to $2 lower from $126 to $164/cwt with a few to $167. Silage fed, under finished, or heavy dairy breed steers brought $75 to $125/cwt. Dairy x Beef steers were bringing $126 to $174. Cows were lower. A bulk of the cows brought $69 to $100/cwt with some fleshier dairy and beef cows selling to $120/cwt. Doubtful health and thin cows were bringing $69/cwt and down. Dairy breed bull calves were steady bringing $100 to $250/cwt with some heavier, well-managed calves selling to $335.
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