Live cattle futures are 80 cents to $1.05 higher on Tuesday. Cash activity settled in at $230-232 in the South last week, with $240-245 in the North. Feeder cattle futures are posting another round of strength after early weakness, up $1.45 to $1.90 at midday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up $1.10 to $329.93 on July 25. The Monday OKC feeder cattle auction had 2,972 head for sale, with action listed as $8-13 higher for steers and heifers $10-20 higher.
USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were back higher in the Tuesday morning report, with the Chc/Sel spread widening to $24.33. Choice boxes were quoted 88 cents lower at $366.85, while Select was down $4.33 to $342.52. USDA estimated cattle slaughter for Monday at 108,000 head. That was up 3,000 head from last week but 6,308 head lower vs. the same Monday in 2024.
