DTN Early Word Livestock Comments 02/22 06:26

DTN Early Word Livestock Comments 02/22 06:26 Pre-Report Positioning Expected Ahead of Friday's Cattle on Feed Most cattle contracts closed higher Wednesday, but without much fanfare. The greatest gain was seen in the May feeder cattle contract, which posted a gain of $1.00. Futures may drift ahead of the report. Hogs were mixed as traders balanced stronger cash with lower cutouts. Robin Schmahl DTN Contributing Analyst Cattle: Steady Futures: Mixed Live Equiv: $218.80 -$0.50* Hogs: Lower Futures: Mixed Lean Equiv: $96.28 -$2.27** *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: Cattle futures tried to run higher with February and April live cattle bumping the bottom of the chart gap, but that is where traders sold more aggressively. At least contracts were able to maintain the uptrend. Not much upside is expected ahead of Friday's Cattle on Feed report. There is much expectation for significantly lower placements, but that has failed to push futures substantially higher, which may indicate it is already factored in. The estimates for the report are for cattle on feed Feb. 1 100.1% with the trade estimates ranging from 99.4% to 101.1%. Placements are estimated at 88.2% with the estimates ranging from 81.6% to 94.9%. If the estimated placement number is correct, it would be the lowest placement number for January since 2007. January marketings are estimated at 100.0% with a range of 98.6% to 100.3%. A few cash cattle traded in Iowa for $288 Wednesday, but this is not sufficient to indicate prices for the week. Boxed prices were mixed with choice up $0.43 and select down $3.36.