Live cattle futures increased by $1.60 for April contracts, reaching $258.475, while feeder cattle futures rose by up to $1.85. Cash cattle trade started at $250-252 and climbed to $256-257 by Wednesday. As of April 28, the CME Feeder Cattle Index was recorded at $369.80, up 18 cents.
The weekly Export Sales report indicated 13,790 metric tons (MT) of beef were sold for 2026, a decrease from the previous week, with shipments at 12,324 MT—a 7-week low. Wholesale Boxed Beef prices also rose, with Choice boxes up $1.69 to $389.74 and Select boxes increasing by $3.61 to $389.86.
USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter at 109,000 head for Wednesday, bringing the weekly total to 324,000 head, an increase of 5,000 head from last week but down 22,156 head from the same week last year.
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