Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
For the week, live prices were steady at $114/cwt. in the Southern Plains, steady to $1 higher at $114 in Colorado, steady in Nebraska at $113-$114 and steady to $1 lower in the western Corn Belt at $112-$113. Dressed trade was steady in Nebraska at $180 and steady to $2 lower in the western Corn Belt at $178-$180.
Lower grain futures helped lift Cattle futures on Friday. Perhaps some traders also are returning to the Live Cattle Market, positioning ahead of what appears to be a solid trend higher after first-quarter supplies are whittled and as the U.S. economy expands.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 83¢ higher.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.52 higher.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 80¢ lower Friday afternoon at $225.87/cwt. Select was 20¢ higher at $220.27.
Total estimated cattle slaughter for the week ending Mar. 13 was 647,000 head, which was 18,000 head fewer than the prior week. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 6.47 million head is 209,000 head fewer (-3.12%). Estimated beef production so far this year is 5.46 billion lbs., which is 74.8 million lbs. less (-1.35%) than the same time last year.
Corn futures closed mostly 4¢ lower.
Soybean futures closed 1¢ to 5¢ higher, after mostly fractionally mixed through Jan ’22.
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