Cattle futures stabilized Friday to end a week of massive declines.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.50 higher (72¢ to $1.97 higher). Week to week on Friday, they were an average of $13.13 lower ($10.87 to $13.90 lower).
Live Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed, from 25¢ lower to 17¢ higher. Week to week on Friday, they were an average of $9.48 lower ($8.20 to $10.90 lower).
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand to a standstill through Friday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
For the week, FOB live prices were $4 lower in the Texas Panhandle at $181/cwt., $5 lower in Kansas at $180, $3.50 lower in Nebraska at $181.50 and $5-$7 lower in the western Corn Belt at $178-$180. Dressed delivered prices were $5 lower in Nebraska at $287 and $5-$9 lower in the western Corn Belt at $283-$287.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.04 higher Friday afternoon at $300.46/cwt. Select was $2.00 lower at $267.42/cwt.
Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 618,000 head was 14,000 fewer than the previous week and 52,000 less than the same week last year. Estimated year-to-date cattle slaughter of 28 million head was 1.4 million head fewer (-4.7%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 23 billion pounds was 1.3 billion pounds less (-5.3%).
Turning to row crops, Corn futures closed 2¢ to 4¢ lower. KC HRW Wheat closed 7¢ to 9¢ lower. Soybean futures closed 2¢ to 5¢ higher through May ’24 and then mostly 1¢ to 3¢ lower.
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