Western Producer Livestock Report

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Hog prices steady

Tight market-ready hog supply and strong pork prices continued to support hog prices in the United States.

The tight supply is the result of rapid weight gain earlier this year, which allowed producers to market hogs, early, causing today’s shortage.

Packer margins were negative despite rising pork cutouts.

U.S. frozen pork supplies at the end of May were 636.08 million pounds, down four percent from the previous month but up 16 percent from last year. The amount was less than the 643.3 million lb. that traders had expected.

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Iowa-southern Minnesota held at about $75.50 US per hundredweight June 22, the same as the previous week.

U.S. pork carcass cut-out values rose to $100.81, up from $94.12 on June 15. Analysts expect pork demand will drop at these prices.

The U.S. federal weekly slaughter was estimated at 1.954 million, down from 1.957 million the previous week.

Bison prices supported

The Canadian Bison Association said marketers say they have adequate supplies for the summer.

There are also reports that some marketers are marketing trim at discounted prices.

There may be inventory build‐up of some cuts, but with anticipated tight supplies of animals to process in the future, the inventory does not appear to be problematic.

Grade A bulls in the desirable weight range were $3.65-$3.90 Cdn per lb. hot hanging weight. Grade A heifers were $3.65-$3.90.

Animals outside the desirable weight range and parameters may be discounted.

Slaughter cows and bulls ranged from $1.60-$2.50.

In the live market, heifers born in 2011 were $2-$2.30 per lb. and bulls were $2.20-$2.40.

Bulls and heifers born in 2010 were $1.90-$2.