DTN Early Word Opening Livestock       09/19 06:20
   Cattle Buyers to Show Greater Interest

   Light cattle trade took place Wednesday mainly in Texas and at $2 higher
than last week. Buyers seem more willing to open the checkbook in the attempt
to procure needed cattle supply. Lean hogs closed in positive territory
Wednesday, which may indicate follow-through buying Thursday.

By Robin Schmahl
DTN Dairy Analyst



Cattle: Higher   Futures: Higher   Live Equiv: $139.02 -1.07*
Hogs:   Steady   Futures: Lower    Lean Equiv: $ 72.91 10.10**

*   based on formula estimating live cattle equivalent of gross packer revenue
** based on formula estimating lean hog equivalent of gross packer revenue

GENERAL COMMENTS:

   Light trade took place Wednesday mainly in Texas and at $2 higher than last
week. Buyers seem more willing to open the checkbook in the attempt to procure
needed cattle supply. Futures were higher in reaction to higher bids with
October futures finally able to close above $100 where it has not been since
Aug. 26. Asking prices are set at $103 in the South and $167 to $170 in the
North. More business is expected to be done Thursday. Higher futures prices
should provide some confidence for sellers to expect higher cash. December live
cattle futures closed at the highest level since Aug. 12. It will still take a
substantial effort to regain the losses of early August, but the market seems
to be slowly gaining ground. Cutouts took a hit Wednesday, which is a bearish
anchor on the market.