Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 13, 2021

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural marketing Service.

Last week, live prices were steady to $1 lower at $123-$124/cwt. in the Southern Plains, $124-$125 in Nebraska and $124-$127 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed trade was $2-$5 lower in Nebraska at $198 and steady to $3 lower in the western Corn Belt at $203.

Cattle futures continued lower Friday, pressured by growing concerns about rising Delta variant infections hampering economic recovery and demand.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.47 lower (50¢ lower in the back contract to $2.10 lower in Nov ’21).

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 76¢ lower, (33¢ lower in the front contract to $1.13 lower at the back).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $5.36 lower Friday at $327.22/cwt. Select was $3.08 lower at $298.37.

The average dressed steer weight the week ending Aug. 28 was 901 lbs., which was 2 lbs. lighter than the previous week and 15 lbs. lighter than the same week last year, according to USDA’s Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection report. The average dressed heifer weight of 821 lbs. was 1 lb. heavier than the previous week but 13 lbs. lighter than the previous year.

Estimated total cattle slaughter the holiday shortened week was 577,000 head, according to USDA, which was 47,000 head fewer than the previous week. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 23.04 million head is 834,000 more (+3.76%) than the same period last year.

Estimated year-to-date total beef production of 19.03 billion lbs. was 648.1 million lbs. more (+3.53%) than the same time the previous year.

Corn futures closed higher Friday, despite bearish World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates that increased ending stocks with more projected planted acres and higher estimated yield.

Corn futures closed mostly 1¢ to 9¢ higher.

Soybean futures closed 15¢ to 19¢ higher.