Live cattle futures are trading with 82 cents to $1.70 losses in the front months on Thursday. There were $192 BidTheGrid™ sales reported on Thursday’s Central Stockyard Fed Cattle Exchange, with other bids running $188-191.50. Beyond that there have been bids reported in the $191 range of the South and $195 in the North. Feeder cattle futures are down $2.40 to $3 so far on the session. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up 46 cents from the day prior at $263.00 on December 17.
Weekly Export Sales data showed beef bookings tallied at just 7,151 MT for 2024 shipment, with 4,432 MT for 2025. The combined sales were 11,583 MT, a 3-week low. Shipments were at 15,913 MT, a 4-week high. South Korea was the top destination of 4,400 MT, with 3,200 MT to Japan.
USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report will be released on Friday, with most expecting to see November placements down 5.1% from last year and marketing 1.8% below a year ago. December 1 on feed inventory is expected to be down 0.3% vs. 2023.
USDA wholesale Boxed Beef prices were again mixed in the Thursday morning report. Choice boxes were up $6.80 to $321.64/cwt, with Select $1.84 lower @ $283.71. USDA estimated Wednesday’s federally inspected cattle slaughter at 123,000 head, taking the week to date total to 364,000 head. That is even with the previous week but down 7,498 from the same week last year.
Dec 24 Live Cattle are at $190.475, down $0.825,
Feb 25 Live Cattle are at $186.625, down $1.700,
Apr 25 Live Cattle are at $188.825, down $1.650,
Jan 25 Feeder Cattle are at $254.550, down $2.450
Mar 25 Feeder Cattle are at $254.625, down $2.750
Apr 25 Feeder Cattle are at $255.400, down $3.000
On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here. More news from BarchartThe views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
