Cattle Current Podcast—Mar. 9, 2020

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ended up $2 lower on a live basis last week in Nebraska and the Southern Plains at $113/cwt. It was $1 higher to $2 lower in the western Corn Belt at $113-$115. Dressed trade was $5 lower in Nebraska at $180-$182; steady to $5 lower at the same money in the western Corn Belt.

Cattle futures dropped like a rock again Friday.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.42 lower ($1.82 lower at the back to $2.90 lower in spot Apr).

Spot Apr Live Cattle closed at $105.75 on Friday. That’s $22.20 less (-17.35%) than the recent high of $127.95 Jan. 10 and lower than the $110.17 shortly after the Tyson plant fire.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.36 lower.

Spot Mar Feeder Cattle closed at $130.70 on Friday, which was $16.75 less (-11.36%) than the recent high Jan. 10, but still slightly higher than the first week of September.

Wholesale beef values were steady on Choice and higher on Select with moderate to fairly good demand and light to moderate offerings, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 22¢ higher Friday afternoon at $207.47/cwt. Select was $1.51 higher at $202.57.

Corn futures closed 1¢ to 7¢ lower through May ’21 and then fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 2¢ to 5¢ lower through Jan ’21 and then mostly 2¢ to 3¢ higher.