DTN Closing Livestock Comment 05/02 15:58
   USDA's Negative Finding of H5N1 in Ground Beef Sends the Cattle Contracts
Sharply Higher

   Heading into Friday's market, the Southern Plains should see packer interest
improve and trade cattle.

ShayLe Stewart
DTN Livestock Analyst

GENERAL COMMENTS:

   The cattle complex saw the biggest support throughout Thursday's complex as
the USDA's announcement about finding no traces of avian influenza in ground
beef was a major victory for the industry. Hog prices closed lower on the Daily
Direct Afternoon Hog Report, down $0.24 with a weighted average price of $91.78
on 2,378 head. July corn is up 9 cents per bushel and July soybean meal is up
$15.90. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 322.37 points.