Live cattle futures ended the Wednesday session with contracts down $1.05 to $2.42 on the day. Cash trade started this week at $255, creeping up to $256 on Wednesday afternoon. The Wednesday Fed Cattle Exchange showed sales of $257 on 70 of the 1,256 head offered, with other bids of $250-254. Feeder cattle futures fell $4.65 to $5.85 across most contracts on Wednesday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down another 12 cents on June 1 to $364.14.
On Wednesday afternoon, the USDA released an update on the New World Screwworm this afternoon stating “a case may have been detected in South Texas,” and that the sample was at the National Vet Service Lab in Ames, IA for testing.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were mixed in the Wednesday afternoon report, with the Chc/Sel spread at $11.43. Choice boxes were up $1.79 to $395.86, while Select was 38 cents lower at $384.43. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday at 109,000 head, with the weekly total at 323,000 head. That was down 34,248 head from the same week last year.
Jun 26 Live Cattle closed at $246.625, down $1.050,
Aug 26 Live Cattle closed at $237.850, down $1.800,
Oct 26 Live Cattle closed at $229.000, down $1.875,
Aug 26 Feeder Cattle closed at $342.625, down $5.800,
Sep 26 Feeder Cattle closed at $339.325, down $5.800,
Oct 26 Feeder Cattle closed at $335.900, down $5.850,
On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
