Afternoon National Slaughter Cattle Review

ST JOSEPH - May 10/04 - 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 Monday

Prices exclude discounts for cattle 30 months or older.  Some packers are
applying discounts of 0.00-41.00 per cwt to these type cattle.  A complete
list of Premiums and Discounts can be found on report LM_CT155, The National
Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle - Premiums and Discounts or LM_CT169, The
5-Area Weekly Wtd Avg Direct Slaughter Cattle - Premiums and Discounts.

Negotiated sales:
Confirmed:       1,068            Week ago:    2,547           Year ago:   5,602
Week to Date:    1,068            Week ago:    2,547           Year ago:   5,602

   Trade slow on very light demand.  Not enough sales for an adequate market test.
Live sales last week traded at 90.00-93.00, and dressed sales from 144.00-147.00.

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

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

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

Beef Type:                   Domestic:
Head count priced today:        8,400
Weighted avg weight:              754
Weighted avg net price:        139.78


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