Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on light demand to a standstill through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. There were too few transactions to trend.
Live prices last week were steady in the Southern Plains on a live basis at $124/cwt. and steady to $2 higher at $124 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were at $196, which was steady in Nebraska but steady to $3 higher in the western Corn Belt.
Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 646,000 head was 11,000 head fewer than the previous week. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 26.3 million head is 806,000 head more than last year (3.2%). Year-to-date estimated total beef production of 21.72 billion lbs. is 588.9 million lbs. more than a year earlier (+2.8%).
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 50¢ higher with follow-through support from the previous session tied to firmer cash prices and higher outside markets.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 71¢ lower, pressured by a surge in Corn futures and week-end positioning.
Corn futures closed mostly 7¢ to 9¢ higher.
Soybean futures closed mostly 9¢ to 11¢ higher.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 8¢ lower Friday afternoon at $280.24/cwt. Select was 6¢ lower at $260.62.
The average dressed steer weight for the week ending Oct. 2 was 916 lbs., according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. That was 2 lbs. heavier than the previous week but 8 lbs. lighter than a year earlier. The average dressed heifer weight of 836 lbs. was 3 lbs. heavier than the previous week but 7 lbs. lighter than the same week last year.
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