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On Wednesday, live cattle futures closed down between 10 to 75 cents, with December 24 contracts at $188.375, down $0.100. In an online auction at Central Stockyards, one lot of 1,322 head sold at $191, while bids ranged from $185 to $188, with some Northern bids reported at $190.
Feeder cattle experienced greater losses, dropping $1.40 to $2.35. The CME Feeder Cattle Index rose to $259.38, up $2.25 from the previous day. USDA reported mixed wholesale boxed beef prices, with Choice down $2.50 to $308.33/cwt and Select up $2.37 to $277.70. The federally inspected cattle slaughter on Wednesday was 125,000, totaling 367,000 head for the week, a decrease of 3,000 from last week and 10,631 from the same week last year.
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