Live cattle futures are up 40 cents in the nearby April contract as cash holds things up, with other contracts down 75 cents to $1. There were no deliveries issued for April on First Notice Day, with the oldest long dated May 15, 2025. Open interest was up 1,647 contracts. Cash trade took off last week, with sales at $245-246 across the country, up $8-10 from the previous week. Feeder cattle futures are falling $2.42 to $3.15 in the front months at midday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down $3.04 to $364.55 on April 3.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were mixed in the Tuesday morning report, with the Chc/Sel at an inverted $2.46. Choice boxes were down $1.87 to $386.17, while Select was 26 cents higher at $388.63. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for Monday at 101,000 head. That was up 8,000 head from last week but 4,531 head below the same week last year.
