Live cattle futures are trading with $2.25 to $3.10 across most contracts on Thursday. Cash trade has been quiet so far this week, with a few sparse $365 dressed sales in the North, down $5 on the week. The Thursday morning Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed no sales on the 2,144 head offered, with bids at $232. Feeder cattle futures are up a nickel in the expiring September contract, with other contracts down $6 to $7. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up 21 cents at $361.31 on September 23.
Export Sales data showed just 8,446 MT of beef sold in the week ending on 9/18, a 6-week low. Shipments saw a slight drop from last week to 12,465 MT.
USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower on Thursday morning, with the Chc/Sel spread at $19.85 Choice boxes were down $3.83 at $373.56, while Select was $2.71 lower to $353.71. USDA federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday was estimated at 120,000 head, with the week to date total at 351,000 head. That was 3,000 head above last week but 15,494 head below the same week in 2024.
Oct 25 Live Cattle are at $231.775, down $2.275,
Dec 25 Live Cattle are at $233.825, down $3.000,
Feb 26 Live Cattle are at $235.900, down $3.075,
Sep 25 Feeder Cattle are at $365.425, up $0.050
Oct 25 Feeder Cattle are at $352.725, down $6.900
Nov 25 Feeder Cattle are at $350.800, down $7.000
On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
