STEER/HEIFERS

1. Jumbo heavy Texas were bid in volume at $71.50 and countered at $73.50

2. More sales of heavy Texas took place today at $72.50 c&f

3. Branded steers were reported at $66.00

4. A sale of heavy Texas was recorded at $66.50 fob today

5. Heavy Texas sold at $67.00 on seasonal averages

6. Several sales of heavy native steers were posted at $67.50

7. Branded steers were bid at $71.00 and countered by one producer at $73.00

COWS

1. Brands in the southwest were bid at $50.00 c&f on heavier averages

2. Good processor brands were bid at $52.00 c&f and countered

3. Fed brand offerings were seen between $54.00 and $56.00 depending on origin and average.

4. Heavy native cows were offered in Asia at $62.00 c&f by one producer.

DAIRIES

1. Direct producer offerings were seen in Asia over night between $65.00 and $68.00 c&f

SKINS

1. Offerings were available on a c&f basis of 25/35 Provimi type kip at $54.00.

BULLS

1. Natives were reported at $64.00

SMALL PACKERS

1. Fleshed light steer/heifers were bid at $54.00 c&f on 55/57 lb. averages and passed by the supplier.

LOW GRADES

1. Processor 3’s were bid at $41.00 c&f and passed by the producer

2. Packer machine damaged 3’s were offered for export at $58.00 c&f on heavier averages

INDUSTRY NEWS

1. Leather goods retailer Danier Leather cited the timing of Boxing week in 2007 for a 60% drop in its third-quarter profits. For the period ending March 29, 2008, net earnings amounted to $116,000, down from a restated $287,000 a year earlier, the company reported Tuesday. Sales were off 8% at $42.4 million, down from $46.3 million.

2. Weyco group announced that net earnings declined approximately 10% to $5.1 million, down from $5.7 million in 2007. Net sales were $61.3 million, a decrease of 4% from 2007 sales of $63.9 million. Sales in the wholesale division, which include wholesale sales and licensing revenues, were $54.2 million compared with $56.6 million in 2007. Wholesale sales were $53.1 million in 2008, down 4% from $55.5 million in 2007. Licensing revenues were $1.1 million in 2008 and 2007. Retail sales were $7.1 million for the first quarter of 2008, down 2% from $7.25 million in 2007. Same store sales were down 5%

3. Footwear and apparel company Rocky Brandsreported that net sales were down 1.9% to $60.5m, while the company's net income figure was down from last year's profit of $0.8m.

4. Lacrosse Footwear posted a 29% rise in first quarter profit, Net sales for the quarter climbed 4% to $24.7m, from $23.7m a year ago.. Sales to the work market rose 16% to $17.9m, boosted by shipments to the US Marine Corps and the US Army. This compensated for an 18% drop in sales to the outdoor market, which fell to $6.8m from $8.3m on unfavorable weather in Europe and the cautious US retail environment. Gross margin was 40.7% of net sales, up from 40.6% in the same period of 2007.

MARKET OBSERVATIONS

Today’s trend: fully firm

1. Several processors and dealers reported a good volume of business today while others said the number of bids were “normal.:

2. While demand seems quite good for most selections, there is tremendous resistance to any higher prices. Meanwhile both buyers and sellers seem to be typically content to trade at steady prices in most cases

FEDERALLY INSPECTED SLAUGHTER

Tuesday’s slaughter included 105,000 steer/heifers and 24,000 cows and bulls