Afternoon National Slaughter Cattle Review

ST JOSEPH - May 9/08 - SNS -- Afternoon market conditions and values for slaughter cattle on a live and dressed basis in the United States.

Afternoon National Slaughter Cattle Review for Friday

This report is based on information provided by companies that agreed to
continue to participate in Livestock Mandatory Reporting on a voluntary
basis.

Trading was active in the South Plains today with good demand. Compared to last week
live sales sold 2.00 higher at 94.00. Trading was light to moderate in the Northern
Plains and Western Corn Belt with moderate demand. Dressed sales in Nebraska and
Iowa/Minnesota sold 1.00 higher at 149.00 when compared to Thursday’s movement. Live
sales in Nebraska and Colorado sold .50 to 1.00 higher at 94.00.

Negotiated sales:
Confirmed:     110,424            Week ago:   65,558          Year ago:   12,258
Week to Date:  176,490            Week ago:  190,833          Year ago:  241,495

Negotiated: prices paid for Domestic Slaughter steers and heifers:
(Information derived from the 5 area weighted average LM_CT100)

Live basis                 Steers                        Heifers
Over 80% Choice       92.50-94.00  avg 93.17        94.00-94.00  avg 94.00
65 - 80% Choice       92.00-94.00  avg 93.73        92.30-94.00  avg 93.88
35 - 65% Choice       92.50-94.50  avg 93.95        93.00-94.50  avg 93.99
0 - 35% Choice        94.00-94.00  avg 94.00        94.00-94.50  avg 94.19
Total all grades      92.00-94.50  avg 93.92        92.30-94.50  avg 93.98

Dressed basis              Steers                        Heifers
Over 80% Choice            -       avg                   -       avg
65 - 80% Choice      148.00-150.00 avg 148.91      147.00-150.00 avg 148.91
35 - 65% Choice      147.00-150.00 avg 148.55      147.00-149.00 avg 148.52
0 - 35% Choice       150.00-150.00 avg 150.00            -       avg
Total all grades     147.00-150.00 avg 148.63      147.00-150.00 avg 148.59

Formula purchases: prices established thus far today for slaughtered cattle.

Beef Type:                   Domestic:
Head count priced today:        10,800
Weighted avg weight:               779
Weighted avg net price:         146.56

Slaughter Cows and Bulls:  Dressed Prices
N/A due to expired law and lack of voluntary packer participation

Covers transactions reported at 2:00 pm today.  Comments and market conditions
may include information gathered from voluntary sources, all prices, weights
and head counts are only those gathered through the mandatory reporting system.

Source:  USDA Market News Service, St. Joseph, MO

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STAT News Service