Afternoon National Slaughter Cattle Review

ST JOSEPH - May 15/08 - SNS -- Afternoon market conditions and values for slaughter cattle on a live and dressed basis in the United States.

Afternoon National Slaughter Cattle Review as of 2:00 pm Thursday

Trading was light in Nebraska and Iowa/Minnesota with light demand.  Trading was
mostly inactive in all other feeding regions.  Not enough sales reported to establish
a market trend.  Last week live sales in the South Plains sold at 94.00.  Dressed
sales in Kansas traded from 148.50-149.00.  Last week in Colorado and Nebraska live
sales traded at 94.00 while Iowa/Minnesota traded at 92.00.  Dressed sales in
Nebraska and Iowa/Minnesota sold from 147.00-149.00 while Colorado sold at 147.00.

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

Negotiated sales:
Confirmed:       3,463            Week ago:   22,509          Year ago:   56,315
Week to Date:    5,881            Week ago:   50,604          Year ago:   72,126

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            -       avg                   -       avg
65 - 80% Choice       94.00-94.00  avg 94.00             -       avg
35 - 65% Choice            -       avg                   -       avg
0 - 35% Choice             -       avg                   -       avg
Total all grades      94.00-94.00  avg 94.00             -       avg

Dressed basis              Steers                        Heifers
Over 80% Choice            -       avg                   -       avg
65 - 80% Choice      150.00-150.00 avg 150.00            -       avg
35 - 65% Choice      150.00-150.00 avg 150.00            -       avg
0 - 35% Choice             -       avg                   -       avg
Total all grades     150.00-150.00 avg 150.00            -       avg

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

Beef Type:                   Domestic:
Head count priced today:        11,400
Weighted avg weight:               779
Weighted avg net price:         148.06

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