Cattle futures collapsed late in Thursday’s session with Feeder Cattle limit down in the front months and Live Cattle sharply lower.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.10 lower.
No doubt, surging grain prices had plenty to do with the pressure in Feeder Cattle.
Corn futures on Thursday closed 11¢ to 17¢ higher through Jul ‘20 and then mostly 1¢ higher. Week to week, that’s an average of 41¢ higher through the front six contracts.
Soybean futures closed 16¢ to 17¢ higher through Mar ‘20 and then mostly 8¢ to 14¢ higher. Week to week, that’s an average of 66¢ higher through the front six contracts.
Other than spillover pressure, it was harder to explain the hard decline in Live Cattle, especially from a fundamental standpoint.
Live sales so far this week are mainly steady at $115/cwt. in the Southern Plains and at $116 in Nebraska. Though too few to trend, early dressed sales on Thursday were steady to $4 higher at $186-$187 in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt.
Wholesale beef values are higher, too. Week to week on Thursday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.79 higher at $223.58/cwt. Select was $2.34 higher at $208.87.
But, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.32 lower.
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