Negotiated cash cattle trade was called $1 higher this week with sales in the North from $95 to $97, and sales in the South at $93 to $95. In the North, the dressed trade was reported at $155 to $160, steady to $7 higher than the previous week.
The return to a full slaughter schedule following the holiday pressured boxed beef prices. Choice closed Friday at $204.76, down $0.68 per cwt. Select closed at $193.92, down $4.84 per cwt.
Weekly cattle slaughter was estimated at 664,000 head, 71,000 more than last week and about 5,500 more than the same week a year ago. Total for the year to date is about 16.5 million head, 5.6% below last year.
August live cattle futures ended the day Friday with gains of $0.75 to close at $100.00. For the week, August live cattle gained $0.60. August feeder cattle futures rose $1.225 Friday to close at $135.75 and on the week gained $0.875.
Steers and heifers sold $4 to $9 higher at auctions in the Northcentral region for the week. Uneven prices were reported for steers and heifers at auctions in the Southcentral and Southeast regions, from $2 lower to $2 higher. Auction receipts totaled 134,500 head compared to 135,700 a year ago.
