Live cattle futures are trading with contracts $1.35 to $2.20 higher at midday. Cash trade picked up last week at $235 live and $370 dressed (North) across the country. Feeder cattle futures are down $1.22 to 70 cents higher in the nearby contracts. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up $4.43 on August 6 to $357.36.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were mixed in the Monday morning report. Choice boxes were up $7.21 at $371.57 with Select down $2.29 to $350.08. The Chc/Sel spread widened to $21.49. USDA’s Federally inspected cattle slaughter for last week was estimated at 509,000 head. That is down 3,000 head from the previous week and 27,811 head below the same week last year.
