News & Resources

DTN Early Word Livestock Comments 05/07 06:15

7 May 2021
DTN Early Word Livestock Comments 05/07 06:15 Uncertainty to Dominate Markets Thursday's fairly quiet trade may carry over to Friday. Cattle will be looking at another day of increasing grain prices based on overnight activity. Hogs might see a somewhat uneventful day for cash. Robin Schmahl DTN Contributing Analyst Cattle: Steady Futures: Mixed Live Equiv: $224.43 +$1.31* Hogs: Steady Futures: Higher Lean Equiv: $120.47 +$1.95** * based on formula estimating live cattle equivalent of gross packer revenue. (The Live Cattle Equiv. Index has been updated to depict recent changes in live cattle weights and grading percentages.) ** based on formula estimating lean hog equivalent of gross packer revenue GENERAL COMMENTS: It stands to reason live cattle futures would have closed higher Thursday due to ever increasing boxed beef prices. However, the disconnect between cash and boxed beef is large with packer profits around $719 per head. Yet, they have been able to procure cattle this week at mostly steady prices averaging $119.12. Consumers want beef and packers need to keep the market supplied. They are using the advantage of ever-increasing feed prices to their benefit. However, high prices may be having an impact on the export market. Weekly exports showed net sales of only 16,900 metric tons (mt). This was 28% below the previous week and 18% below the four-week average. Price might be getting too high for the international appetite. This may make more beef available to the domestic market. Technically, live cattle futures are attempting to build a level of support with futures moving in a fairly sideways pattern over the past two weeks.