Live cattle futures are up $1.30 to $1.65 at Tuesday’s midday. Cash trade has yet to get kicked off this week, as last week settled in at $234-235 sales and $238 late in the south. Feeder cattle futures are up $2.95 to $3.22 at midday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up $2.14 to $365.12 on March 26. The Monday OKC feeder cattle auction had sales on 7,622 head, with prices $4-8 on feeders and calves mostly steady.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Tuesday AM report, with the Chc/Sel at $1.65 Choice boxes were up $2.34 to $396.44, while Select was $3.78 higher at $394.79. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for Monday at 109,000 head. That was up 4,000 head from last Monday and 5,738 head above the same week last year.
