US Perspective - 01.05.12
Courtesy
of The Maxfield Report
www.themaxfieldreport.com
Prices
of big packer and cowhides remain at steady levels as last week. This
week saw both packers and processors offer a limited number of hides,
while we encountered reports of sellers raising the asking prices on
a few selections, while holding other prices steady. For the most
part, reports claim that offer lists appear a bit less populated than
last week; however, worth noting, is that slaughter levels are moving
their way higher in spite of the BSE announcement this week.
Expectations are slaughter levels this week could come close to
625,000 head and although this is well short of seasonal levels, it
is better than forty thousand head versus levels of a couple of weeks
ago.
Today’s
USDA Export report does not offer any real surprises in the way of
wet-slated sales; however, the 238,000 wet-blue hides were a bit of a
surprise to most pundits. Overall, combined sales at 571,100 hides is
about on par with the average for the year (575,100 hides) while
combined shipments at 563,400 hides falls short of the yearly weekly
average of 600,3000 hides.
