Negotiated cash fed cattle trade in Nebraska was slow on light demand through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Compared to the last reported market on Monday, live sales traded $2 lower at $123/cwt. Last week, dressed sales were at $196-$202/cwt.
In the Southern Plains and Western Corn Belt, trade was mostly inactive on light demand. On Tuesday in the Southern Plains, live sales traded mostly at $120/cwt. In the Western Corn Belt, last week live sales traded from $124-$126/cwt. and dressed at $196-$202/cwt.
Cattle futures tried to extend gains early Wednesday but apparently ran out of technical steam.
Feeder Cattle were also pressured by strong gains in Corn futures.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2 lower (from $1.55 to $2.42).
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 41¢ lower, except for 12¢ higher in the back contract.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 46¢ lower Wednesday afternoon at $272.88/cwt. Select was $2.99 lower at $253.75/cwt.
Front-month grain futures continued higher with a hotter, drier forecast and reports of storm-damaged beans in some areas of the Corn Belt.
Corn futures closed 15¢ to 18¢ higher through new-crop contracts and then mostly unchanged to fractionally higher.
Soybean futures closed 29¢ to 38¢ higher through the front six contracts and then mostly 20¢ to 25¢ higher.
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