DTN Midday Livestock Comments          04/07 12:08

   Tuesday Looks to Higher Prices in Livestock Contracts 

   Livestock contracts head into Tuesday's noon hour trading fully higher in 
all three contracts. 

By ShayLe Stewart
DTN Livestock Analyst

General Comments

   It's looking as if Tuesday trade is every bit as ready to rally support and 
push contracts as Monday was. All three livestock contracts stride into the 
noon hour limit higher. Cash hog prices were able to jump a little Tuesday 
morning, now the attention shifts to the cash cattle market to see if the 
board's progression will help that sector at all this week. 

   May corn is up 5 1/4 cents per bushel and May soybean meal is down $1.90. 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 728.66 points and NASDAQ is up 171.78 
points. 

   LIVE CATTLE 

   Live cattle contracts jumped $4.50 higher right off the bat and head into 
the noon hour with the same confidence. April live cattle are up $4.50 at 
$88.32, June live cattle are up $4.50 at $84.80 and August live cattle are up 
$4.50 at $89.32. Early asking prices of $115 have been set in the South and 
$180 in the North. Unfortunately, there has already been some trade developing 
in parts of Texas at $105 which is $4.00 lower than last week's weighted 
average -- not enough to set a trend for the week, but trade nevertheless. For 
Wednesday's Fed Cattle Exchange there is another large offering of 8,136 head 
with an even blend of readily available cattle and some with extended delivery. 

   Boxed beef prices are mixed: choice down $3.27 ($226.78) and select up $2.73 
($217.76) with a movement of 98 loads (61.52 loads of choice, 14.31 loads of 
select, 9.84 loads of trim and 11.92 loads of ground beef). 

   FEEDER CATTLE 

   Feeder cattle prices are pushing the limit, supporting contracts upwards of 
$4.50 higher throughout the entire complex. April feeders are up $4.50 at 
$114.92, May feeders are up $4.50 at $113.80 and August feeders are up $4.50 at 
$121.00. The week is still early but if the complex can keep the support that 
the early part of the week has established -- confidence may start to develop 
once again. 

   LEAN HOGS 

   The lean hog market has had a fruitful day as both the morning cash market 
and the board trade higher. April lean hogs are up $3.00 at $44.12, June lean 
hogs are up $3.00 at $52.65 and July lean hogs are up $3.00 at $57.77. Cash 
hogs bought in the last few trading days were pretty slim, which is most likely 
stemming from the uncertainty with how packing plants are going to handle the 
Columbus Junction plant in Iowa halting production, coupled with the problem of 
not having employees showing up for work. 

   The projected lean hog index for 4/6/2020 is down $2.13 at $55.52, and the 
actual index for 4/3/2020 is down $3.00 at $57.65. Hog prices are higher on the 
National Direct Morning Hog Report, up $0.31 with a weighed average of $43.15, 
ranging from $42.00 to $43.50 on 2,567 head sold and a five-day rolling average 
of $47.52. Pork cutouts total 236.68 loads with 203.75 loads of pork cuts and 
32.93 loads of trim. Pork cutout values: down $0.95, $56.74. 

   ShayLe Stewart can be reached shayle.stewart@dtn.com 


(CZ)

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