Live cattle futures closed with most contracts down anywhere from a nickel to $1.40 and Feb up 45 cents. Cash trade this week was reported at $196-197 in the South and $200 in the North. This morning’s Fed Cattle Exchange from Central Stockyards showed sales on 434 of the 868 head at $197. Feeder cattle futures were down $1.65 to $2.925 on Friday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was $3.99 from the day prior at $265.76 on January 1.
Beef export sales totaled 1,412 MT for 2024 in the last full week of the year, with 11,140 MT for 2025 shipment. South Korea was the largest buyer of a combined 3,600 MT, with China in for a total of 2,200 MT. Exports in the week of 12/26 were tallied at 12,204 MT, a 16-week low. Japan was the destination of 3,400 MT, with 3,400 headed to South Korea.
USDA wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Friday afternoon report. Choice boxes were up $1.76 at $325.24/cwt and Select $2.49 higher @ $296.72. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for this week at 498,000 head. That is up 54,000 head from last week but down 44,462 head from the same week last year.
Feb 25 Live Cattle closed at $194.050, up $0.450,
Apr 25 Live Cattle closed at $196.000, down $0.050,
Jun 25 Live Cattle closed at $190.675, down $0.675,
Jan 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $264.825, down $1.650,
Mar 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $264.175, down $2.025,
Apr 25 Feeder Cattle closed at $264.400, down $2.125,
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