Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from slow to limited trade on light demand up north, to mostly inactive in the Southern Plains, through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
For the week:
Live prices in the Southern Plains were steady at $114/cwt.
Live prices in Nebraska were $1-$2 higher at $113-$114. Dressed trade was steady to $2 higher at $180.
Live prices in the western Corn Belt were steady to $3 higher at $114-$115. Dressed trade was steady to $2 higher at $180.
The five-area direct average steer price through Thursday was $113.78/cwt. on a live basis, which was 50¢ lower than the previous week and $5.10 less than the prior year. The average steer price in the beef of $180.07 was 75¢ less than the prior week and $10.19 less than the previous year.
Estimated total cattle slaughter last week was 611,000 head, which was 42,000 head fewer than the previous week. Estimated year-to-date cattle slaughter of 3.95 million head is 185,000 head fewer (-4.47%) than the same period last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 3.35 billion lbs. is 68.2 million lbs. less (-2.0%) than a year earlier.
Cattle futures closed higher Friday with support from consolidating grain futures prices, as well as the outlook for higher cash prices next week, given the frigid weather and what appeared to be sluggish fed cattle trade for the week.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 98¢ higher, from 22¢ lower toward the back to $2.05 higher toward the front.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 98¢ higher (60¢ to $1.70 higher).
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 59¢ lower Friday afternoon at $232.37/cwt. Select was 64¢ higher at $220.93.
Corn futures closed 2¢ to 4¢ lower through Jly ‘22, and then mostly fractionally lower to 1¢ lower.
Soybean futures closed 4¢ to 5¢ higher through Aug ‘21, and then mostly fractionally higher to 2¢ higher.
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