*Live cattle futures fell by 17 to 30 cents on Wednesday, with cash trading remaining quiet. The Fed Cattle Exchange online auction reported no sales from the 1,026 head offered, with bids ranging from $233 to $234. Feeder cattle futures also declined, dropping $1.50 to $1.75 at midday, while the CME Feeder Cattle Index decreased by $1.30 to $357.05 as of March 13.*
*Wholesale boxed beef prices decreased in the Wednesday morning report, with Choice boxes down 78 cents to $402.53 and Select down 19 cents to $396.53. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter at 109,000 head for Tuesday, totaling 207,000 head for the week—4,000 fewer than last week and down 30,219 from the same week last year.*
*The latest update from APHIS reported 1,025 active cases of New World Screwworm in Mexico, including 28 cases in the bordering state of Tamaulipas.*
