Live cattle futures are posting 50 to 70 cent gains in the nearbys at midday. Cash trade found its footing on Friday at $233 to $236.50 live and $370 dressed. Feeder cattle futures are showing $1.50 to $1.75 front month gains on Monday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down $1.75 to $363.48 on January 22.
The monthly Cattle on Feed report showed December placements down 5.38% from last year at 1.554 million head. Marketings during the month were up 1.78% yr/yr to 1.773 million head. January 1 on feed was 11.45 million head, down 3.15% from last year. We got a breakdown of steers and heifers this month, with Jan 1 inventory of heifers down 3.07% from last year (vs. steers down 3.22%) and a ratio of 38.73%, up from 38.70% last year.
