Live cattle futures saw losses on Wednesday, with contracts down 85 cents to $1.20. Cash activity has been quiet this week, with some light sales of $242 reported. This morning’s Fed Catte Exchange online auction showed sales on 398 of the 1,238 head offered at $242-$242.50. Feeder cattle futures closed the Wednesday session with contracts $2.17 to $2.40 lower across the front months. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back down 9 cents at $365.43 on September 2.
USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were back higher in the Wednesday PM report, with the Chc/Sel spread at $28.28. Choice boxes were up $2.59 at $416.01, while Select was $1.56 higher to $387.73. USDA estimated cattle slaughter for Wednesday at 120,000 head, with the week to date total at 242,000 head. That was 13,431 head lower vs. the same week in 2024.
