Final Trade Day of the Week for Cattle

Feeder cattle took advantage of the weaker grain markets and added triple digits to the upside. Gains for the front months were limited to $1.22. Live cattle were mixed, closing a nickel to 20 cents higher in the ’23 contracts, and 10 to 22 cents red for the nearbys. Limited Thursday cash trade did not move the needle, as USDA still quotes the bulk of Southern trade near $142 and the bulk of Northern trade from $145-$148. The CME’s Feeder Cattle Index was 50 cents higher to $181 flat on 8/24. 

The weekly USDA Export Sales report (new format) was retracted due to data quality issues.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices from the Thursday PM report were mixed as Choice was raised 71 cents to Select’s 8 cent drop. USDA estimated the week’s cattle slaughter through Thursday at 499k head. That is even with last week but up 33k head from the same week last year.  

Aug 22 Cattle  closed at $141.100, down $0.225,

Oct 22 Cattle  closed at $143.650, down $0.125,

Dec 22 Cattle  closed at $149.900, down $0.100,/

Aug 22 Feeder Cattle  closed at $181.875, up $0.650

Sep 22 Feeder Cattle  closed at $184.250, up $1.225