Cattle Fall to Kick Off the Week

Live cattle futures fell $1.25 to $2.05 in the nearby contracts on Monday, with the deferred contracts down 7 to 52 cents at the close. Cash action was at $191-192 trade in the South last week, with trade up to $195-196 in the North. No trade was reported on Monday, with most compiling showlists.

Feeder cattle futures were $1.10 to $2.10 lower in the front months on Monday, with back months down 75 to 97 cents. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back down 86 cents from the day prior at $261.73 on December 13. The weekly OKC feeder cattle auction showed an estimated 7,500 head for Monday’s sale, above the same week last year but well shy of last week. Sales were $5-10 higher for feeder steers, with calves $8-13 higher. Feeder heifer and heifer calves were steady.

USDA wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Monday afternoon report. Choice boxes were up 98 cents to $317.37 /cwt, with Select $5.71 higher @ $289.57. USDA estimated Monday’s federally inspected cattle slaughter at 118,000 head. That is 1,000 head below the previous Monday and down 5,745 from the same Monday last year. 

Dec 24 Live Cattle  closed at $192.025, down $1.625,

Feb 25 Live Cattle  closed at $189.975, down $2.050,

Apr 25 Live Cattle  closed at $191.750, down $1.250,

Jan 25 Feeder Cattle  closed at $255.550, down $2.100,

Mar 25 Feeder Cattle  closed at $256.375, down $1.300,

Apr 25 Feeder Cattle  closed at $257.425, down $1.100,

On the date of publication,

here.
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