Live cattle futures experienced declines of $3 to $3.50 at the Thursday close, with cash trade seeing northern bids at $383 dressed and $244-245 live. The Fed Cattle Exchange reported no sales from the 1,456 head offered on Wednesday. Feeder cattle futures fell significantly, down $4.65 to $5.40, and the CME Feeder Cattle Index decreased by $1.62 to $373.17.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that Thursday’s federally inspected cattle slaughter reached 103,000 head, totaling 427,000 for the week, which is 33,333 head lower than the same week last year. Additionally, beef export sales dipped to 12,902 metric tons in the week ending February 19, marking a six-week low, with Japan as the top buyer at 4,500 metric tons.
Meanwhile, APHIS reported 8 new cases of New World Screwworm in Tamaulipas, bringing the total active cases in the state to 10, including 7 in bovines.
