Live cattle futures fell on Thursday, experiencing losses between $2.125 and $2.75. The Fed Cattle Exchange online auction reported no sales for the 1,026 head offered, with bids ranging from $232 to $235. Feeder cattle futures also faced pressure, declining by $3.45 to $6.45, while the CME Feeder Cattle Index rose by $2.37 to $360.96 on March 18.
A report from APHIS highlighted that there are currently 1,194 active cases of new world screwworm in Mexico, with 34 cases reported in Tamaulipas, the state’s border region. In beef export news, USDA disclosed just 3,207 MT in sales during the week ending March 12, the lowest since October 2023, with Japan being the largest buyer of 3,800 MT.
Wholesale boxed beef prices decreased as of Thursday morning, with Choice boxes down $1.45 to $400.30 and Select boxes $3.72 lower at $392.45. Estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for the day reached 106,000 head, making the week-to-date total 414,000 head—down 8,000 from last week and 25,126 head below the same period last year.
