Download PDF The holidays and last week’s weather forced a kill slowdown by pork packers and that had the effect of improving their margins. The cutout gained $2.51/cwt. on a weekly average basis and the WCB negotiated cash market dropped almost $4.50/cwt. That pushed packer margins up to about $17/head—the largest since early October. Pork …
Download PDF The hog and pork complex was affected by the same holiday and weather disruptions that plagued the cattle and beef complex this week. Nasty winter weather doesn’t have as big of an impact on hogs as cattle because the hogs are raised indoors in heated facilities, but it does affect transportation of the …
Download PDF This was a week of disruptions. First, the upcoming Christmas holiday trimmed slaughter schedules and slowed the meat trade. Next, the artic cold penetrated the midsection of the country raising concerns about animals in the feedyards and limiting both buyer and seller interest in moving animals. The end result is that not many …
Download PDF It was another week of limited price changes in the cash hog and pork markets. The WCB negotiated market dropped $1.44/cwt. on a weekly average basis and the NDD market was down $1.35. The cutout managed to eek out a $0.20/cwt. gain. Dec LH futures expired on Wednesday and were cash-settled to the …
Download PDF The beef market was volatile this week as buyers wrapped up last minute purchasing ahead of the holidays. The rib primal traded in an almost $100/cwt. range from $457 on the low side to $546 on the high side. That was to be expected as buyers with immediate ship needs moved in and …
Download PDF Packers scored a minor victory this week as they were able to purchase cash cattle at about $1 below last week. USDA is reporting the weekly average price near $155.60, but the volume traded was only about half of what they purchase in the negotiated market in a normal week. Obviously, some cattle …
Download PDF The hog and pork complex continued to work lower this week,erasing any hopes that there would be a price rebound before theDec contract expires. The WCB negotiated market dropped$2.53/cwt. on the week and the NDD market was down $1.60/cwt. Bellies had another soft week and that caused the cutout toaverage $86.85, down $0.75 …
Download PDF Negotiated hog prices held rather steady this week as the NDD was up $0.34 on a weekly average basis and the WCB was down $0.14. The problem for packers was that the cutout dropped $2.47/cwt. That shrank their margin once again and I calculate it to be currently just under $7/head. Who would …
Download PDF This week is normally one where the Choice ribs shine and they didn’t disappoint, with the Choice rib primal gaining almost $34/cwt. That is the good news. Perhaps the only good news, because even that huge gain in the ribs was not enough to keep the Choice cutout from averaging $0.62/cwt. below last …
