
Live cattle futures are continuing to rally to new all time highs with contracts up $1.15 to $1.82. There were no deliveries issued for August live cattle on Tuesday. Cash trade has been quiet this week. The Central Stockyards Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed $237 sales in TX on 479 head of the 1,558 head offered. Feeder cattle futures are rallying another $3.47 to $3.95 at midday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up 21 cents to $336.03 on August 4.
USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices continued to post a rebound in the Wednesday morning report, with the Chc/Sel spread at $23.17. Choice boxes were up $4.04 at $373.98, while Select was $4.87 higher to $350.81. USDA estimated cattle slaughter for Tuesday at 115,000 head, with the weekly total at 216,000 head. That was down 5,000 head from last week and 22,589 head lower vs. the same week in 2024.