**Live Cattle Futures Update (April 22, 2023)**
Live cattle futures increased by 22 cents to $1.05, closing at $247.075. Cash trade this week averaged $246 across the U.S., with a Fed Cattle Exchange report indicating sales between $246-247 for 334 out of 1,226 heads offered. Feeder cattle futures rose by 45 to 90 cents, though the CME Feeder Cattle Index fell $3.44 to $370.00.
**Export and Slaughter Data**
USDA’s Export Sales report for the week of April 16 recorded beef exports at 15,131 metric tons, with South Korea as the largest buyer at 5,100 MT. Weekly federally inspected cattle slaughter was estimated at 106,000 heads, bringing the total for the week to 425,000, which is down 4,000 from last week and 26,941 below the same week last year.
**New World Screwworm Update**
The APHIS update on the New World Screwworm in Mexico reported 1,469 active cases, an increase of 74 since Tuesday. Tamaulipas noted 116 active cases (+14), while Nuevo Leon has 8 active cases (+3).
