Cattle Start the Week on a Higher Note

Live cattle futures were 15 to 47 cents higher on Monday. Last week’s cash market stayed mostly near $135-136 in the South and $143-147 in the North. Monday action was mostly compiling showlists for the week.  Feeders were the leaders, with contracts up $1.17 to $2.22 on Monday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back down 12 cents on 8/5 to $175.31. 

USDA’s Wholesale Boxed Beef prices bounced higher on Monday afternoon. Choice boxes were up $1.62 to $266.24, with Select 19 cents higher at $238.86. That widened the Chc/Sel spread to $27.38. USDA estimated Monday’s FI cattle slaughter at 119,000. That is down 5,000 head from last week but up 6,000 head from the same week last year.

Aug 22 Cattle  closed at $138.350, up $0.475,

Oct 22 Cattle  closed at $144.225, up $0.350,

Dec 22 Cattle  closed at $150.450, up $0.475,

Aug 22 Feeder Cattle  closed at $181.275, up $1.750

Sep 22 Feeder Cattle  closed at $185.650, up $2.225