Missouri Weekly Direct Slaughter Cattle Report- May 08, 2026

Week:  280    Last Week:  560    Last Year:  320

These prices acquired from Missouri producers, Trading as of this Friday morning May 08, trade so far this Friday morning is light to moderate with Flat dressed sales trading steady on early sales at 400.00, moving 5.00 higher on Thursday afternoon at 405.00. Grid dressed sales are inactive. It appears that the fed cattle market has not yet finished its race as bids started to increase on Wednesday after last week's sharply higher market with trade in the Southern Plains at mostly 256.00-258.00 and trade in the Northern Plains at mostly 258.00-260.00, 3.00-6.00 higher and dressed sales from 402.00-405.00. Last week's slaughter was 534,000, up 5,000 from previous week and 29,000 less than a year ago. Comprehensive carcass weights the weighted average for both steers and heifers were at 948 lbs, down 8 lbs from previous week and 38 lbs above last year at this time. With the grilling season getting closer boxed-beef prices have started to trade higher looking at spring demand and along with the sharp rise in fed cattle prices boxed-beef will be looking for increases. There is a high abundance of high-quality grades of beef cuts as record levels of fed cattle are grading Choice and Prime has the Choice-Select spread nearly even. Choice boxed-beef on Thursday retreated and closed 2.68 lower at 386.94 and Select losing ground and closing 5.21 lower at 384.42 with a Choice-Select spread remains very narrow at 2.52. Compared to last Thursday’s close with Choice at 389.52 and Select at 388.07. Slaughter Cattle under Federal inspection on Thursday was estimated at 422,000, last week 434,000 and last year 468,000. The hide and offal value from a typical slaughter steer on Thursday was 14.18 per cwt unchanged when compared to Wednesday 's value.

  Live Sales: Slaughter steers and heifers: (over 90 percent Choice) No Sales 

  (Note: Weighing conditions some plant delivered weights and some net weights FOB feedlot after a 4 percent shrink. Dressed Carcass Sales: Paid on Hot Carcass Weights) Delivered or Picked up  

 Steers and Heifers (80 percent Choice)    4 loads early Wednesday Flat 400.00, Thursday afternoon 405.00 Flat.

 Grid Dressed Sales:  (over 90 percent Choice)    No Sales 

Source:  MO Dept of Ag-USDA Market News Service, Perry, MO         

         Greg Harrison, Market Reporter