Opening Livestock Cash Market Comments

ST. JOSEPH - Jul 3/09 - SNS -- The USDA's daily opening cash market comments for national slaughter cattle markets.

Morning National Slaughter Cattle Review for Thursday, 07/02/09

Trading of slaughter steers and heifers, on Thursday, was moderate with moderate
demand in the 5 area feeding regions.  In the Texas Panhandle, compared to the
previous week, live sales sold 1.50 higher at 83.50.  In Kansas live sales sold 1.00
higher at 83.00 and dressed sales, the bulk of which, sold 1.50 higher at 130.50.  In
Nebraska live and dressed sales sold 2.00 higher from 82.00-82.50 and 131.00,
respectively, compared to the prior week.  In Colorado, compared to last week, live
sales sold .50 to 1.00 higher at 83.00.  Not enough dressed sales, in Colorado, to
establish an adequate market trend Thursday; last week dressed sales sold at 130.00.
In Iowa/MN live sales sold 1.50 higher from 82.00-82.50 and dressed sales sold 1.00
higher from 130.00-132.00 compared to the prior week.

Negotiated sales:
Confirmed:   145,397    Week ago:           34,555   Year ago:            78,811
Wk to Date:  149,043    Week ago to Date:   91,973   Year ago to Date:   175,696

Negotiated, Formula and contract purchases delivered to packers today:
Today:        87,300    Week Ago:           92,900    Year Ago:           23,900
Wk to Date:  368,200    Week Ago to Date:  371,900    Year Ago to Date:  304,700

Negotiated, Formula and contract commitments today: (generally for slaughter
within 7 days)
Today:       187,300    Week Ago:           80,600    Year Ago:          101,200
Wk to Date:  377,400    Week Ago to Date:  330,600    Year Ago to Date:  414,500

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       80.00-83.00  avg 82.25     81.00-83.50  avg 82.93
65 - 80% Choice       80.50-83.00  avg 82.37     81.25-83.50  avg 82.58
35 - 65% Choice       81.00-83.50  avg 83.12     81.00-83.50  avg 83.26
0 - 35% Choice        83.00-83.50  avg 83.28     83.00-83.50  avg 83.43
Total all grades      80.00-83.50  avg 82.81     81.00-83.50  avg 83.05

Dressed basis              Steers                     Heifers
Over 80% Choice      129.50-132.00 avg 130.83   130.00-132.00 avg 131.02
65 - 80% Choice      128.00-132.00 avg 131.11   129.00-131.50 avg 130.82
35 - 65% Choice      129.00-131.00 avg 130.86   130.00-132.00 avg 130.72
0 - 35% Choice             -       avg                -       avg
Total all grades     128.00-132.00 avg 131.00   129.00-132.00 avg 130.83

Formula purchases: prices established on previous reporting day for
slaughtered cattle.

Beef Type:                   Domestic:
Head count priced today:        27,400
Weighted avg weight:               813
Weighted avg net price:         129.21

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