Prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist. The Market Update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA NASS and AMS reports.
Beef
The Choice cutout value is at its highest level since July. Last week brought an increase of $9.41 as the cutout averaged $317.84. Continued strength early this week helped it push above $320.00. Beef demand is moving along typical seasonal patterns as grilling gives way to crock pot season. Wholesale cuts from the chuck and round are higher and middle meats showed strength as restaurant traffic and holiday demand increases. The upward movement in the cutout value has helped packer margins, resulting in packers being met with higher asking prices from cattle feeders this week. The estimated harvest last week was 608,000 head, 22,000 more than the previous week and 30,000 fewer than a year ago. Fed beef production is higher than last year with non-fed harvest sharply lower. The average carcass weight for beef breed steers was 1,000 last week according to the USDA Five Area Weekly Accumulated Average report. Beef cow harvest is 16.8% lower than last year while dairy cow harvest is running 13.8% lower.
High Choice And Prime Beef
High Choice and Prime beef breed steers were fully steady to higher, bringing $181-$191/cwt with some packages reported from $189-$194/cwt and a few higher. Choice steers and heifers ranged from $164-$181/cwt. Holstein steers sold strong again this week. High grading steers brought $163-$174 with some to $178/cwt. Lower grading steers brought $130-$163. Silage fed, under finished or heavy dairy breed steers brought $75-$130/cwt. Dairy x Beef steers were steady, bringing $138-$181 with a few to $187/cwt. Cows were steady to $2 higher. Most of the cows brought $94-$118/cwt with some to the low $130s/cwt. Lower yielding cows brought $75-$89 with doubtful health and thin cows bringing up to $75/cwt. Dairy breed bull calves were steady, selling from $200-$400/head with some heavier, well-managed calves selling to $900/head. Dairy breed heifer calves were higher, bringing $200-500/head with some selling higher. Beef and Beef Cross calves were higher, selling to $1,000/head with a few higher. Light and lower quality calves sold up to $15.
Leave a Reply