Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Thursday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend. Elsewhere, trade was at a standstill, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
For the week, live prices are steady at $114/cwt. in the Southern Plains, steady to $1 higher at $114 in Colorado, steady in Nebraska at $113-$114 and steady to $1 lower in the western Corn Belt at $112-$113. Dressed trade is steady in Nebraska at $180 and steady to $2 lower in the western Corn Belt at $178-$180.
Net U.S. beef export sales for the week ending Mar. 4 were 20,900 metric tons, according to USDA’s weekly U.S. Export Sales report. That was 8% less than the previous week but 17% more than the previous four-week average. Increases were primarily for South Korea, Japan, Mexico, China and Taiwan.
Cattle futures closed mixed Thursday. Live Cattle closed mostly higher, supported by a strong rally in front-month Lean Hog futures. Feeder Cattle futures edged mostly lower with higher Corn futures and the sluggish recovery in cash prices.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 48¢ higher, except for 5¢ to 30¢ lower in three contracts.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 43¢ lower, except for unchanged to 7¢ higher in three contracts.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 62¢ lower at $226.67/cwt. Thursday afternoon. Select was 25¢ higher at $220.07.
The average dressed steer weight the week ending Feb. 27 was 899 lbs., which was 10 lbs. lighter than the previous week and 2 lbs. heavier year over year, according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. The average dressed heifer weight of 834 lbs. was 7 lbs. lighter than the previous week and 1 lb. heavier year over year.
Corn futures closed mostly 2¢ to 4¢ higher.
Soybean futures closed mostly 5¢ to 9¢ higher though May ‘22, and then mostly 11¢ to 16¢ higher.
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