Live cattle futures found some footing to close out Friday, with gains of 15 cents to $1. December was down $2.20 on the week. Cash trade was reported at $225-227 this week across the country, with a few at $228 in the South. Some late Northern sales were $218-222. Feeder cattle futures posted gains of $1.50 to $2.10 at the close. January held onto a 97 cent gain this week despite, a couple limit moves both higher and lower. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up $1.31 to $343.73 on November 13.
USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were weaker in the Friday PM report, narrowing the Chc/Sel spread to $16.49. Choice boxes were down $2.84 to $370.73, while Select was 79 cents lower at $354.24. USDA federally inspected cattle slaughter for this week at 576,000. That is 16,000 head above last week and 32,810 head below the same week last year.
