**Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle Market Update**
Live cattle futures increased by 67 cents to $1.05 at midday on Thursday, while cash trade discussions started with bids ranging from $238 to $242. The Fed Cattle exchange had no sales for the 1,016 head offered, with limited bids at $238-239.50. Feeder cattle futures also saw gains, trading up between 70 cents to $1.25 in the front months. The CME Feeder Cattle Index rose by 89 cents to $366.82 as of March 31. Markets will close early on Thursday in observance of Good Friday.
In export news, beef sales for the week ending March 26 totaled 11,886 metric tons, marking a three-week high, though shipments decreased to 13,630 metric tons. February’s beef exports reached a 10-year low of 183.6 million pounds, down 6% from January. USDA estimated Wednesday’s federally inspected cattle slaughter at 107,000 head, bringing the weekly total to 324,000, a slight increase from the previous week but still 45,169 head below last year.
