DTN Closing Livestock Comments         09/03 15:57
   Meat Futures Closed Mixed in Light Pre-Holiday Trade

   Cattle futures experienced choppy action with early profit-taking countered
by late fund buying and spreading. Lean hog contracts close moderately higher,
supported by late-week packer spending and cash optimism after the holiday.

By John Harrington
DTN Livestock Analyst

 GENERAL COMMENTS:

   The cash cattle market was not tested with buyers and sellers leaving early
for the long holiday weekend. Trade volume totals look adequate in the North,
but generally short in the South. According to the closing report, the Iowa hog
base was $1.36 higher compared with the prior day settlement ($70.00-80.00,
weighted average $78.57). From Friday to Friday, meat futures scored the
following changes: October LC, up 35; December LC, off 10; September FC, off
210; October FC, off 193; October LH, up 238; December LH, up 208; February PB,
up 5; March PB up 150. For the week, September corn rocketed 28 3/4 cents
higher. Corn futures closed significantly higher Friday, up 13 3/4 to 17. The
Dow closed 128 points higher at 10,448 and the Nasdaq advanced by 33 to close
at 2,233.