Live cattle futures rose 62 to 70 cents in nearby contracts, with August futures up $2.57 at $230.350. Cash cattle prices increased this week, reaching $235-236 in the South, a rise of $3 to $5 from last week, while Northern trade saw a boost of $3 to $383 dressed. The Friday Fed Cattle Exchange auction recorded sales of $245 in IA and CO, and $235 in TX. Feeder cattle futures increased by $1.42 to $2.70, with the CME Feeder Cattle Index up $1.98 at $335.01 on July 30.
USDA’s Wholesale Boxed Beef report indicated mixed prices: Choice boxes rose $2.83 to $364.15 while Select dropped 77 cents to $340.60, widening the Chc/Sel spread to $23.55. Estimated cattle slaughter for Thursday was 111,000 head, bringing the weekly total to 444,000, which is 4,000 head lower than last week and 27,849 head down compared to the same week in 2024.
