Jefferson City, MO- Friday May 16, 2025 MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market
News
Missouri Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle
Week: 280 Last Week: 800 Last Year 360
These prices acquired from Missouri producers, Trading as of this Friday
morning May 16, Flat dressed prices 3.00 higher at 358.00, with Grid
dressed sales steady at 362.00. Cash fed cattle prices look to move
higher this week and are not yet ready to give up as trade in Texas
Panhandle on Thursday was mostly 1.00-2.00 higher at 220.00, in Kansas at
220.00. Nebraska and Western Cornbelt trading mostly 1.00-2.00 higher at
229.00 with a few sales at 230.00-231.00, dressed sales mostly 3.00
higher at 358.00. Packers continue to be in need of cattle and the show
list are not getting any bigger. Last week’s slaughter was 559,000, same
as previous week but 57,000 less than a year ago, with weekly slaughter
estimated at near 555,000-560,000 this week. Slaughter reductions from
packers have enabled packers to keep cut-out values moving higher as we
enter the Memorial weekend fast approaching with retailers ramping up
promotions to jump start the summer grilling season a crucial window for
drawing foot traffic and boosting meat sales. This also gives producers
reasons to hold out for higher prices. Comprehensive carcass weights the
weighted average for both steers and heifers were down 1 lb from last
week at 913 lbs, but 25 lbs above last year at this time. Choice boxed
beef prices have continued higher this week on Thursday saw Choice up .54
cents at 349.90 and Select up 3.33 at 339.18 with a Choice-Select spread
closing the gap to 10.72, compared to last Thursday’s close with Choice
at 347.89 and Select at 333.20. Slaughter Cattle under Federal
inspection on Thursday was at 459,000, last week 469,000 and last year
485,000. The hide and offal value from a typical slaughter steer on
Thursday was 11.06 per cwt 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. 4 loads Thursday 358.00.
Grid Dressed Sales: (over 80 percent Choice) 3 loads Thursday 362.00
Source: MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Service, Perry, MO
Greg Harrison, Market Reporter