Live cattle futures are up 55 to 75 cents a midday. Cash trade from last week settled in at $235-236 sales in the North and $235 in the South. Feeder cattle futures are $1.80 to $3.42 higher in the front months on Tuesday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back down 73 cents to $361.33 on March 20. The weekly OKC feeder cattle auction has an estimated 5,370 head for sale, with steers steady on the feeders and up $5-15 for calves. Heifers were firm to $5 higher.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Tuesday morning report, with the Chc/Sel spread at $3.90. Choice boxes were up $1.07 to $400.20, while Select was $2.47 higher to $396.30. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter on Monday at 105,000 head. That was up 7,000 head from last Monday and 12,638 head below the same week last year.
