Live cattle futures are experiencing a decline, with contracts down 15 to 25 cents. Last week’s cash trade saw sales between $245 and $246, but this week’s Central Stockyards Fed Cattle Exchange auction reported no bids on 970 head offered, with requests set at $250 live. Feeder cattle futures, however, increased by 70 cents to $1.25 at midday, while the CME Feeder Cattle Index rose by 4 cents to $364.59 on April 4.
In the latest APHIS update, there are currently 40 active cases of New World Screwworm in Mexico’s Tamaulipas and 2 in Nuevo Leon. Wholesale boxed beef prices also showed a decline, with Choice boxes down $1.21 to $381.53 and Select boxes down 7 cents to $386.26. The USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter at 113,000 head on Tuesday, bringing the weekly total to 211,000, 6,000 head lower than last week and down 15,921 head year-on-year.
