Feeder Cattle Jan '19 (GFF19)

Fri Oct 19, 4:40PM CDT
Live cattle futures ended the Friday session with most contracts 20 to 85 cents lower. Feeder cattle futures were also weaker, down 30 to 97.5 cents. The CME feeder cattle index was down 14 cents on October 18 at $155.36. Wholesale boxed beef prices were higher on Friday afternoon. Choice boxes were up $1.11 @ $207.93, with Select $1.89 higher at $194.24. USDA estimated FI cattle slaughter through Saturday at 625,000 head, 14,000 below the previous week and down 8,000 from last year. There was little cash trade reported on Friday, with a few trades around $111 in the north earlier in the week. The monthly Cattle on Feed report showed September placements going against trade estimate at 2.051 million head, down 4.6% from last year. Marketings during that month were down 3.59% from last year with one less marketing day at 1.719 million head. October 1 cattle on feed were reported at 11.4 million head which was 5.43% larger than last year. That was shy of trade estimates but is still the largest October number on record. Heifers on feed for October 1 was at 4.307 million head, the largest number of heifers since 2001.Oct 18 Cattle closed at $112.250, down $0.825,Dec 18 Cattle closed at $116.775, down $0.400,Feb 19 Cattle closed at $121.150, down $0.225,Oct 18 Feeder Cattle closed at $154.650, down $0.600Nov 18 Feeder Cattle closed at $154.100, down $0.325Jan 19 Feeder Cattle closed at $148.750, down $0.675--Call Brugler Marketing & Management @ (402) 289-2330 with questions or news tips.