Livestock

SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle estimate: 400. Last Friday: 1719. Year ago Friday: 393. Thursday actual: 435.

Compared to Thursday, not enough slaughter steers, heifers, Holstein steers or slaughter bulls for an adequate market test. Slaughter cows sold fully steady.

Steers: Not tested.

Holsteins: Not tested.

Heifers: Not tested.

Cows: Premium White 70-80 percent lean; Breaking 70-80 percent lean 37.00-40.00, high dressing 40.00-42.00; Boning 80-85 percent lean 35.00-38.00; Lean 85-90 percent lean 32.00-36.50.

Bulls: Not tested.

For the week: Compared to last week slaughter steers and Holsteins sold unevenly steady. Slaughter heifers sold steady to .50 lower. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Slaughter steers and Holsteins remain in good supply, while heifers are still few and far between. As cold weather and rain moved through the region auction receipts slowly decreased. Cattle in good mixed quality and in average to fleshy condition. Direct feedlot trade at a near standstill in the south plain with the last established market late last week. Trade activity for the Iowa/Minnesota region at 62.00-63.00 and dressed sales 1.00 to 2.00 lower in the beef at mostly 98.00. Boxed beef down on light choice to 109.38 and .22 on heavy choice to 108.19.

Hog estimate: 500. Last Friday: 531. Year ago Friday: 600. Thursday actual: 405.

Barrows and Gilts: Compared to Thursday, sold steady. 47-50 percent lean 220-270 lbs. 31.50-32.00; 44-48 percent lean 270-290 lbs. 30.00-31.00; 43-46 percent lean 290-300 lbs. 28.00-29.00.

Sows: Steady.

U.S. 1-2: 300-500 lbs. 20.00.

U.S. 1-3: 500-600 lbs. 21.00; over 600 lbs. 23.00.

Boars: Steady. 270-300 lbs. 18.00; 300-700 lbs. 6.00.

For the week: Compared to last week, barrows and gilts and sows sold fully steady. Boars steady to 2.00 higher. Hog prices for barrows and gilts trending lower at the beginning of the week and regaining ground late. Estimated slaughter for hogs through Thursday at 1,170,000.

Sheep estimate: 200. Last Friday: 165. Year ago Friday: 207. Thursday actual: 190.

Compared to Thursday, all classes steady. Supply near 50 percent slaughter lambs, 10 percent slaughter ewes and 40 percent feeder lambs.