Cattle Futures Mixed, With Beef Weaker on Larger Harvest

After trading Thursday higher through midday, live cattle futures closed the session 10 to 30 cents in the red. Feb futures held on to a 47 cent gain at the bell. The special Thursday auction from Central Stockyards sold 465 of the 1,759 head listed for $140. USDA also mentioned $140 trade in TX, with KS sales from $139-$140 for Thursday. Northern trade was light, with deals of $220-$223 in the beef. Feeder cattle futures closed the session with 2 to 15 cent losses. The 2/2 Feeder Cattle Index from CME was 32 cents higher to $159.25. 

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were $1.69 weaker in Choice and $3.10 weaker for Select in USDA’s PM report. USDA estimated the WTD cattle slaughter at 479k head through Thursday. That was 10k more than last week’s pace, and is up by 9k head compared to the same week last year. 

Feb 22 Cattle  closed at $141.600, up $0.475,

Jun 22 Cattle  closed at $141.525, down $0.100,

Mar 22 Feeder Cattle  closed at $166.725, down $0.150

Apr 22 Feeder Cattle  closed at $171.800, down $0.025