Cattle Trading Mixed at Midday

Live cattle futures are mixed with 17 to 22 cent losses for April and June. The Feb contract is up by 27 cents for midday, and the deferred months are also higher so far. USDA reported $140 trade in TX, with KS sales from $139-$140 for Thursday. Northern trade was light on Thursday, with deals of $220-$223 in the beef. Feeder cattle futures are red through midday, giving back 15 to 57 cents so far. The 2/2 Feeder Cattle Index from CME was 32 cents higher to $159.25. 

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were again weaker for Friday morning. Choice was $1.60 lower and Select dropped by 45 cents which tightened the Chc/Sel spread to $3.84. 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  are at $141.875, up $0.275,

Jun 22 Cattle  are at $141.325, down $0.200,

Mar 22 Feeder Cattle  are at $166.175, down $0.550

Apr 22 Feeder Cattle  are at $171.450, down $0.350