**Live Cattle Market Update:**
On February 26, live cattle futures are up 40 to 65 cents, with Feb futures at $240.875. The Fed Cattle Exchange’s online auction on Wednesday saw no sales of the 1,602 head offered, with bids at $237. In contrast, cash trade from last week ranged between $238 and $240 live.
Feeder cattle futures also showed gains, up 97 cents to $2 at midday, with the CME Feeder Cattle Index increasing by $3.82 to $374.41. Wholesale Boxed Beef prices decreased, with Choice boxes down 57 cents to $370.14 and Select boxes down 52 cents to $366.71. USDA reported a slaughter total of 115,000 head on Tuesday, bringing this week’s total to 223,000 head—an increase of 11,000 head from last week but a decrease of 12,481 from the same week last year.
