Live cattle closed the Friday session with most contracts steady 30 cents higher ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. A few 2025 contracts were down a nickel. Cash action picked up in Friday, with some $183 live and $292 dressed action reported in the North, down $1 from last week. Southern trade was steady, at $182. Feeders were weaker heading into the weekend, with contracts down 27 to 87 cents. The CME Feeder Cattle index was down 62 cents on April 18 to $241.73.
USDA’s Cattle on Feed report showed 1.746 million head placed during March, down 12.35% from a year ago, and below the average trade guess of down 7%. March marketings were down 13.71% at 1.706 million head, vs. trade estimates to be 11.9% lower. April 1 on feed inventory was up 1.49% at 11.821 million head, below the trade’s expected 2.1% incline from last year.
