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On Friday, live cattle futures saw gains ranging from 15 cents to $1, with December futures down $2.20 for the week. Cash trade prices varied from $225-227 nationwide, with some sales reaching $228 in the South, while late Northern sales ranged between $218-222. Feeder cattle futures increased by $1.50 to $2.10, and the CME Feeder Cattle Index rose by $1.31 to $343.73.
The USDA reported weaker wholesale boxed beef prices, with Choice boxes down $2.84 to $370.73 and Select boxes down 79 cents to $354.24. The spread between Choice and Select narrowed to $16.49. Cattle slaughter reported by the USDA was 576,000 this week, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week, but 32,810 below the same week last year.
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