Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from a standstill to limited on light demand through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend there were some trades in the western Corn Belt at $125/cwt. on a live basis and at $196 in the beef.
In established trade for the week, live prices were $3 higher in the Southern Plains at $120, $5-$7 higher in Nebraska at $125, $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $123-$125 and $4-$7 higher in Colorado (compared to two weeks earlier) at $120-$123. Dressed prices were $5-$7 higher at $195.
Week to week on Thursday, the five-area direct average steer prices was $4.42 higher at $121.87. The average dressed steer price was $195.21, which was $6.53 higher.
Cattle futures closed lower Friday, amid active trade and likely profit taking from the strong week-to-week gains.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.10 lower (22¢ to $2.45 lower), except for 62¢ higher in the back contract.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.55 lower (80¢ lower toward the back to $2.37 lower in spot Apr), except for 45¢ higher in the back contract.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.67 higher Friday afternoon at $272.17/cwt. Select was 24¢ higher at $264.07.
Estimated total cattle slaughter the week ending Apr. 10 was 641,000 head, according to USDA, which was 32,000 head more than the previous week. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 9.0 million head is 184,000 head fewer (-2.0%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 7.54 billion lbs. is 54.2 million lbs. less (-0.7%) than a year earlier.
Grain futures were mixed Friday, reacting to USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 3¢ higher, except for 2¢ lower in spot May.
Soybean futures closed 9¢ to 12¢ lower through the front six contracts, and then mostly 2¢ to 7¢ lower.
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