Live cattle futures are showing midday losses of 35 cents to $1.22. Cash trade picked up a few sales at $218 on Tuesday, down $7-8 from last week, with a few dressed sales of $345 in the north. The Wednesday morning Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed no sales on 2,000 head offered and bids of $218 to $220. Feeder cattle futures are down $1.60 to $3.12. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down another $3.01 on August 24 to $335.46.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Wednesday AM report, with the Chc/Sel widening to $21.19. Choice boxes were up $1.05 at $387.48, with Select $2.69 higher to $368.98. USDA estimated Tuesday’s Federally inspected cattle slaughter at 107,000 head, with the weekly total at 205,000 head. That is up 2,000 head from the previous week, but 22,076 head below the same week last year.
Aug 26 Live Cattle are at $217.750, down $0.350,
Oct 26 Live Cattle are at $209.725, down $1.225,
Dec 26 Live Cattle are at $211.475, down $0.650,
Aug 26 Feeder Cattle are at $332.125, down $1.600
Sep 26 Feeder Cattle are at $316.150, down $3.125
Oct 26 Feeder Cattle are at $311.350, down $1.975
