Negotiated cash fed cattle trade continued sluggish on Friday. Live trade last week was steady in Nebraska and the Southern Plains at $114/cwt.; steady to $1 lower at $114 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed trade was steady to $2 higher at $182.
Sluggish cattle trade, near-term heavy fed cattle supplies and month-end position squaring all helped pressure Cattle futures Friday.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.50 lower, from 95¢ lower toward the back to $3.90 lower in expiring Feb.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.27 lower.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 14¢ higher Friday afternoon at $240.53/cwt. Select was 94¢ higher at $229.73.
Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 666,000 head was 114,000 head more than the previous week and 38,000 more than the prior year. Year-to-date estimated cattle slaughter of 5.17 million head is 227,000 head fewer than the same time last year. Beef production of 4.37 billion lbs. is 87.9 million lbs. less (-1.97%) year over year.
Corn futures closed mostly 3¢ to 4¢ lower.
Soybean futures closed mostly 7¢ to 9¢ lower.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More