There were too few comparable sales to for an accurate trend in cash calf and feeder cattle prices—due to the previous holiday week—but trade was active on moderate supplies and moderate to very good demand, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
“Demand remains excellent for long-time weaned calves and yearlings coming off of grass,” AMS analysts say. “As typical in the summer months, many un-weaned calves are beginning to make their way to sale barns; however, these are selling on limited demand. Cattle buyers throughout the Plains continue to demonstrate caution as the hot, humid weather has set in.”
Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures were an average of $3.49 higher. Feeder cattle futures were an average of $8.18 higher.
Although wholesale beef values continued lower, cash fed cattle prices were mostly $2-$3 higher than the previous week at mostly $120/cwt. Dressed trades were mostly $3 higher at $191.
Week to week, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $9.49 lower Friday afternoon at $209.35/cwt. Select was $7.09 lower at $195.42.
“Slaughter cattle have continued to move at a good pace, with the year-to-date slaughter 5.9% higher than a year ago,” AMS analysts say. “This provides support to the feeder cattle market and was demonstrated during this week’s feedlot trade.”
Friday to Friday Change*
Weekly Auction Receipts
| Receipts | Auction | Change | Direct | Change | Video/Internet | Change | Total | Change |
| July 14 | 150,700 | + 134,900 | 81,200 | + 43,000 | 138,200 | + 82,700 | 370,100 | + 260,600 |
CME Feeder Index
| CME Feeder Index | July 13 | Change |
| $149.74 | + $1.55 |
*Thursday-to Thursday for CME Feeder Index
Cash Stocker and Feeder
North Central
| Steers-Cash | July 14 | Change |
| 600-700 lbs. | $172.38 | + $0.07 |
| 700-800 lbs. | $162.36 | – $5.77 |
| 800-900 lbs. | $156.56 | + $1.23 |
South Central
| Steers-Cash | July 14 | Change |
| 500-600 lbs. | $159.01 | – $19.79 |
| 600-700 lbs. | $154.83 | – $16.49 |
| 700-800 lbs. | $151.00 | – $8.84 |
Southeast
| Steers-Cash | July 14 | Change |
| 400-500 lbs. | $157.40 | + $1.66 |
| 500-600 lbs. | $150.61 | + $2.55 |
| 600-700 lbs. | $144.12 | + $4.86 |
(AMS National Weekly Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary)
Wholesale Beef Value
| Boxed Beef (p.m.) | July 14 ($/cwt) | Change |
| Choice | $209.35 | – $9.49 |
| Select | $195.42 | – $7.09 |
| Ch-Se Spread | $13.93 | – $2.40 |
Futures
| Feeder Cattle | July 14 | Change |
| Aug | $154.275 | + $9.250 |
| Sep | $154.075 | + $9.050 |
| Oct | $152.750 | + $8.825 |
| Nov | $150.850 | + $7.925 |
| Jan ’18 | $147.550 | + $8.325 |
| Mar | $144.850 | + $8.275 |
| Apr | $143.800 | + $7.725 |
| Aug | $142.125 | + $6.075 |
| Live Cattle | July 14 | Change |
| Aug | $117.800 | + $3.025 |
| Oct | $118.575 | + $4.750 |
| Dec | $119.000 | + $4.400 |
| Feb ’18 | $119.225 | + $3.925 |
| Apr | $118.625 | + $4.150 |
| Jun | $111.825 | + $3.625 |
| Aug | $109.750 | + $3.175 |
| Oct | $109.600 | + $2.325 |
| Dec | $109.825 | + $2.050 |
| Corn futures | July 14 | Change |
| Jul | $3.652 | – $0.170 |
| Sep | $3.762 | – $0.162 |
| Dec | $3.894 | – $0.152 |
| Mar ’18 | $4.002 | – $0.134 |
| May | $4.050 | – $0.132 |
| Jul | $4.096 | – $0.130 |
| Oil CME-WTI | July 14 | Change |
| Aug | $46.54 | + $2.31 |
| Sep | $46.75 | + $2.36 |
| Oct | $46.92 | + $2.36 |
| Nov | $47.12 | + $2.32 |
| Dec | $47.35 | + $2.28 |
| Jan ’18 | $47.55 | + $2.22 |
Equities
| Equity Indexes | July 14 | Change |
| Dow Industrial Average | 21637.74 | + 223.40 |
| NASDAQ | 6312.46 | + 159.38 |
| S&P 500 | 2459.27 | + 34.09 |
| Dollar (DXY) | 95.11 | – 0.88 |