Live cattle futures were up $1.582 to $3.47 on Tuesday, led by the front months. Open interest was up 5,500 contracts on Wednesday, mostly in June and August. 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 were up $3.22 to $5.82 at the close. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up 81 cents to $365.93 on March 30. The Monday OKC feeder cattle auction had sales on 7,622 head, with prices $4-8 on feeders and calves mostly steady.
Tuesday’s APHIS update on the New World Screwworm showed 40 active cases in the bordering state of Tamaulipas and one active case in Nuevo Leon. Over the weekend, Secretary Rollins stated that the USDA is evaluating a phased in strategy on opening up the US border for Mexican cattle imports, likely starting with ports in the west, the furthest away from the current screwworm cases.
