Livestock

SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle estimate: 250. Last Friday: 289. Year ago Friday: 311. Thursday actual: 512.

Compared to Thursday, there were not enough slaughter steers, heifers or Holstein steers for a market test. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on a very light run, with not enough slaughter bulls for a market test.

Slaughter Steers: Not tested.

Holstein Steers: Not tested.

Slaughter Heifers: Not tested.

Slaughter Cows: Premium White 70-75 percent lean; Breaking 70-80 percent lean 46.25-47.00; Boning 80-85 percent lean 42.00-45.50; Lean 85-90 percent lean 36.75-39.00.

Slaughter Bulls: Not tested.

For the week: For the week, slaughter steers and heifers sold steady to weak on relatively light runs. Holstein steers traded mostly steady to weak through Wednesday, turning fully 1.00 to 2.00 lower on Thursday. Slaughter cows sold firm to 2.50 higher through Wednesday, only to trade .50 to 1.00 lower to close out the week. A total of five load-lots of finished steers made their way through the ring this week, where bidding was fairly active as the opportunity to procure a load from a local owner is hard to come by as we head into the summer months. Slaughter heifers are another story as numbers continue to be light. Holstein steers were in moderate supply and demand this week through Wednesday, as top prices remain in the low 60.00 range. However, bids dropped rapidly on Thursday due to a combination of lower quality steers, full conditions, and the upcoming short kill week. Slaughter cow runs were fairly good as several loads of fed cows sold in the high 40.00 to low 50.00 range.

However, the same cows that sold from 46.00 to 50.00 through mid-week, brought 44.00 to 48.00 to end the week as supplies begin to stack up somewhat at the plants. Nationally, direct feed yards are moving dressed beef a 1.00 lower this week at 101.00 in the North, with the Southern yards holding out for steady money. Chain speeds remain cranked up as we head into the 4th of July week, although with kills of 135,000+ over the past week, packers will need to move boxes for the upcoming holiday to avoid supplies backing up.

Hog estimate: 400. Last Friday: 380. Year ago Friday: 324. Thursday actual: 417.

Sows: Steady.