Cattle Current Podcast—July 10, 2023

Lower Corn futures and producer leverage demonstrated by the week’s cash fed cattle trade helped push Cattle futures higher on Friday.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.58 higher ($1.80 at the back to $3.27 higher toward the front).

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.13 higher (42¢ higher near the back to $2.42 higher at the front).

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from slow with light to moderate demand in the North, to limited on light demand in the South through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, live prices were steady to $1 lower in the Southern Plains at $178/cwt., steady to $1 higher in Nebraska at $183-$185 and steady to $3 higher in the western Corn Belt at $183-$184. Dressed prices were steady at $290.

Choice boxed beef cutout value Friday afternoon was $2.97 lower at $316.90/cwt. Select was $4.34 lower at $285.63/cwt.

Estimated total cattle slaughter for the holiday-shortened week of 539,000 head was 108,000 head fewer than the previous week and 49,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 16.8 million head was 3.6% less year over year. Year-to-date estimated beef production of 13.8 billion pounds was 676.9. million pounds less (-4.7%).

Corn and Soybean futures closed lower on a wetter weekend outlook and perhaps some positioning ahead of next week’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, which will be USDA’s first opportunity to make adjustments to forecast yields. 

Corn futures closed mostly 6¢ to 12¢ lower.

Soybean futures closed mostly 16¢ to 21¢ lower.

KC HRW Wheat closed 21¢ to 25¢ lower.