Live cattle futures declined between 20 to 80 cents across most contracts on Tuesday, with Feb 26 Live Cattle closing at $239.100, down $0.200. The cash trade remained quiet on Monday, with prices ranging from $240-244 in the north and $242-245 in the south. Feeder cattle futures also fell, with the CME Feeder Cattle Index decreasing by 83 cents to $373.83.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices varied, with Choice boxes down 21 cents to $367.55 and Select boxes down $2.45 to $362.90. The Chc/Sel spread widened to $4.65. USDA’s estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for Tuesday stood at 116,000 head, bringing the weekly total to 223,000 head, which is unchanged from the previous week and 4,183 head above the same week last year.
