Live cattle futures are showing some positive trade on the Wednesday session, with gains of 10 to 20 cents in the nearbys. Cash trade has been light this week, with light dressed trade at $385, up $4 wk/wk. the Wednesday morning Fed Cattel Exchange online auction showed sales on 40 of the 1,268 head offered at $245 in IA using the BidTheGrid™ method. Feeder cattle futures are reverting back lower at midday, with losses of $1.10 to $1.42 on Wednesday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up another $1.65 to $342.69 on August 11.
USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Wednesday morning report, as retailers stock up ahead of the Labor Day run. Choice boxes were up 46 cents at $391.04, while Select was $3.28 higher to $368.92. USDA estimated cattle slaughter for Tuesday was 114,000 head, with the week to date total at 217,000. That was up just 1,000 head from last week but 16,998 head lower vs. the same week in 2024.
