Post-Christmas Rally for Cattle
Live cattle futures settled the Thursday session with contracts rallying $1.97 to $3.05 higher. Cash trade has yet to begin this week, with bids of $190 reported so far. Thursday morning’s Fed Cattle Exchange online auction from Central Stockyards showed no sale on the 1,036 head listed, with bids running $188-190. Feeder cattle futures were up $3 to $4.50 across the board . The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down $2.28 from the day prior at $260.77 on December 25.
USDA wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Thursday afternoon report. Choice boxes were up $4.41 to $320.39/cwt and Select $2.02 higher @ $288.77. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter at 119,000 head on Thursday, taking the weekly total to 275,000 head. That is down 66,506 head from the same week last year.
Dec 24 Live Cattle closed at $192.775, up $1.975,
Feb 25 Live Cattle closed at $190.100, up $2.725,
Apr 25 Live Cattle closed at $192.600, up $3.050,
Jan 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $259.300, up $3.450,
Mar 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $259.500, up $4.500,
Apr 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $260.025, up $4.175,
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.