Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from a standstill to mostly inactive on very light demand through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Last week, live prices were $141-$142/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $146.00-$148.50 in Nebraska and $148-$150 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were $234.
The five-area direct weighted average fed steer price last week was $146.88/cwt. on a live basis, which was $2.49 more than the previous week. The weighted average price in the beef was $4.30 higher at $234.23.
Choice Boxed beef cutout value was 24¢ higher Monday afternoon at $264.52/cwt. Select was 42¢ higher at $238.36/cwt.
Apparently, bullish supply fundamentals were enough to help Cattle futures mainly fade the bearish Cattle on Feed report, especially given higher Corn futures prices.
Live Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of 42¢ lower to an average of 22¢ higher.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 16¢ lower, except for unchanged to an average of 20¢ higher in the back two contracts.
Grain and Soybean futures gained more traction with concerns about drought in China.
Corn futures closed mostly 5¢ to 7¢ higher.
Soybean futures closed mostly 28¢ to 31¢ higher.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More