Jefferson City, MO- Friday March 21, 2025 MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market
News
Missouri Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle
Week: 480 Last Week: 240 Last Year 280
These prices acquired from Missouri producers, Trading as of this Friday
morning March 21, is moderate with flat dressed sales 12.00-15.00 higher
at 332.00-335.00, Grid dressed sales 8.00 higher at 336.00. Negotiated
cash trade so far this week taking place Friday morning and should pick
as the day goes on and is seeing much improved demand as winter storms
through the Plains has seen plants closed at mid-week and needing cattle
for procurement. Late Friday morning trade started in the Northern Plains
with dressed prices at 335.00 and live sales from 214.00-215.00. This
will be the sixth week of sharply lower slaughter volumes with estimated
slaughter this week at 575,000-580,000. There is lost production this
week due to the blizzard conditions limiting movement across Kansas and
Nebraska. Packers used slaughter reductions to their advantage
especially on Wednesday adding 6.00 on Choice cuts getting the extra
boost from production cuts. Slaughter reductions have enabled packers to
move cut-out prices higher giving producers reasons to hold out for
higher prices. Comprehensive carcass weights the weighted average for
both steers and heifers were up 2 lbs from last week to 913 lbs, but 26
lbs above last year at this time. Choice boxed beef prices have improved
this week with the winter storm through the plains Choice box-beef on
Thursday closing 1.55 lower after Wednesday’s 6.00 gain at 328.06 with
the Select closing .68 cents higher at 309.36 with a Choice-Select spread
widening to 18.70, compared to last Thursday’s close with Choice at
318.27 and Select at 306.32. Slaughter Cattle under Federal inspection
on Thursday was at 440,000, last week 483,000 and last year 471,000. The
hide and offal value from a typical slaughter steer on Thursday was 11.43
per cwt up .05 cents 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) 6 loads Flat Friday morning at
332.00. 2 Loads Flat at 335.00.
Grid Dressed Sales: (over 80 percent Choice) 4 loads Friday morning
336.00.
Source: MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Service, Perry, MO
Greg Harrison, Market Reporter