Cattle futures on Thursday paused from the week’s rally, but stronger cash prices and indicators of feedlot marketing currentness suggest there’s room to roam higher.
For instance, the dressed steer weight the week ending Oct. 23 was 918 lbs., according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. That was 4 lbs. lighter than the previous week and 13 lbs. lighter year over year. The average dressed heifer weight of 842 lbs. was 2 lbs. heavier week to week but 5 lbs. lighter year over year.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 43¢ lower (12¢ lower toward the back to $1.02 lower in spot Dec).
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 87¢ lower (47¢ lower at the back to $1.15 lower in spot Nov).
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Thursday afternoon. So far this week, the only established sales are $2 higher in the Southern Plains at $128/cwt., according to the Agricultural Marketing Service
Last week, live prices were at $124-$126/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, at $126 in Kansas, $127 in Nebraska and at $126-$127 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed trade was at $200.
Choice boxed beef cutout values were $1.73 higher Thursday afternoon at $290.22/cwt. Select was 50¢ higher at $268.22/cwt.
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