Negotiated cash fed cattle prices trended higher through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Live sales in Colorado were $2 higher than last week at $98/cwt. In Nebraska, live trades were 50¢ to $2 higher at $98; dressed sales were $1.00-$1.50 higher at $158.00-$158.50.
Cattle feeders sold 422 head of the 1,022 offered in the weekly Fed Cattle Exchange auction—all from the Southern Plains. Of those 103 head sold for a weighted average price of $96/cwt. (1-9 day delivery) and 319 head sold for a weighted average price of $96.12 (9-17 day delivery). Those prices mirrored country trade in the region on Tuesday.
Cattle futures closed mixed, but mostly slightly higher on Wednesday, with more strength later in the session. Some positioning is likely Thursday, ahead of Friday’s Cattle on Feed report and the semiannual Cattle inventory report.
Live Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of 24¢ lower through the front four contracts to an average of 42¢ higher.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 31¢ higher.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 27¢ higher Wednesday afternoon at $201.15/cwt. Select was $2.02 lower at $189.28.
Corn futures closed 2¢ to 4¢ higher.
Soybean futures closed mostly 1¢ to 2¢ higher.
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