Live cattle futures posted $2.25 to $3.90 gains on Thursday, led by nearby Feb. Cash trade has been slow to come in this week, with some light sales of $200 being reported in the South on Thursday and a few dressed sales in the North at $320, vs. $315 last week. Thursday morning’s Central Stockyards Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed sales on 135 head of the 1,108 head offered at $198 using the BidTheGrid™ method. Feeder cattle futures were up $2.925 to $3.65 on the day. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up another $2.14 from the day prior at $275.00 on January 8.
USDA wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Thursday PM report, with the Chc/Sel spread widening to $22.43. Choice boxes were up $2.17 at $330.78/cwt, with Select $1.46 higher @ $308.35. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for Thursday at 122,000 head, taking the weekly total to 479,000 head. That is up 55,629 head from the same week last year.
Feb 25 Live Cattle closed at $197.600, up $3.900,
Apr 25 Live Cattle closed at $198.275, up $2.750,
Jun 25 Live Cattle closed at $192.725, up $2.250,
Jan 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $269.225, up $3.650,
Mar 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $268.300, up $3.325,
Apr 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $269.075, up $2.925,
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 Barchart- Cattle and Hogs in Q4 and 2024 - Where are they Heading in 2025?
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