Live cattle futures closed the Tuesday session with gains of $1.05 to $2.90 across the board. Open interest was up 2,043 contracts. Last week’s cash trade was at $246-249 in the South, with some northern action near $249-250. Monday had some cleanup trade at $248 in KS. Feeder cattle futures were $1.40 to $2.50 higher at the close. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up $1.08 to $375.02 on April 13. The OKC feeder cattle auction from Monday had sales on 4,859 head, with feeders steady to $5 higher for steers and heifers up $10-15. Calves were steady to $25 higher.
The Tuesday update from APHIS on the new world screwworm in Mexico showed 54 total active cases in the bordering state of Tamaulipas as of April 12, with 3 active cases in Nuevo Leon.
