Cattle Current Podcast—Jan. 3, 2023

Cattle futures rallied on Tuesday, supported by last week’s stronger cash fed cattle prices and more trade volume.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.10 higher.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.79 higher, ($1.15 to $3.42 higher), except for 82¢ lower in newly minted away Jun.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from slow on light demand to a standstill through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were some early FOB live sales in the western Corn Belt at $175/cwt.

Last week, FOB live prices were $172 in the Southern Plains, $172-$173 in Nebraska and $172-$172.50 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $273.

The five-area weighted average FOB live fed steer price last week was $1.73 higher at $172.24/cwt. The average dressed delivered price was $2.49 higher at $272.87.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $5.37 lower Tuesday afternoon at 284.34/cwt. Select was $1.47 lower at $258.86/cwt.

The positive outlook for South America and likely technical selling helped shove Soybean futures lower, dragging Grain futures along.

Corn futures closed mostly 5¢ to 10¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat futures closed mostly 9¢ to 13¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed 19¢ to 26¢ lower.