Recently stronger wholesale beef prices and last week’s mostly steady-to-firmer cash fed cattle trade helped Live Cattle futures edge an average of 15¢ higher Monday.
Despite lower Corn futures, Feeder Cattle futures meandered to a mostly lower close Monday, presumably pressured in part by the lack of cash direction with many auction barns closed for the holidays. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 84¢ lower (15¢ to $1.67 lower), except for an average of 35¢ higher in the back two contracts.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Last week, live prices were $155/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $155-$157 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed prices were $248.
Choice Boxed beef cutout value was $1.00 higher Monday afternoon at $263.83/cwt. Select was $3.12 higher at $238.57/cwt.
Corn futures weakened on positive South American moisture. They closed 2¢ to 5¢ lower through May ‘24 and then mostly fractionally mixed.
Soybean futures closed 12¢ to 20¢ lower through Sep ’23 and then mostly 2¢ to 8¢ lower.
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