North Leads in Mixed Cash Cattle Trade

.
.
(Shelby Chesnut)

Cash cattle prices traded mixed on moderate to active volumes. Cattle in the North traded at $164 to $166 per cwt. live and $264 to $266 dressed, both steady to $1 higher than last week. Cattle in the South traded at $163 per cwt. live, $1 lower compared to last week.

Northern feeders have experienced considerably more adverse weather and muddy pen conditions than southern yards. The supply of well-finished cattle remains extremely tight and will remain so over the next month. Steer weights are now 14 pounds below year ago.

Feeder cattle sold from $4 lower to $1 higher, with calves selling mostly $4 higher.

April live cattle futures surged 85 cents on Friday to $163.00 at the close, thereby marking a weekly advance of 67.5 cents. Meanwhile, April feeder futures slid 20 cents to $194.80 at Friday’s settlement; that represented a 15-cent weekly rise.

Weekly estimated cattle slaughter was 626,000 head, down 31,000 head from the same week a year ago. The year-to-date total is down 2.6%.

Wholesale beef prices declined for the week. The Choice boxed beef fell $3.47 per cwt. to $279.88. Select boxed beef declined $3.65 per cwt. to $268.75.

 

Latest News

Biden Administration Restores Wildlife Protections
Biden Administration Restores Wildlife Protections

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to reinstate rules protecting endangered plants and animals, action that would reverse changes made during the Trump Administration that weakened the Endangered Species Act.

Across Breed EPD Adjustment Factors
Across Breed EPD Adjustment Factors

EPDs from multiple breeds can be compared by adding/subtracting the appropriate adjustment factors to the EPDs resulting from the most recent genetic evaluations for each of 18 breeds.

APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies
APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies

The livestock industry continues to grapple with the first confirmed cases of HPAI in cattle, while federal and state agencies continue to assure consumers there's no concern about the safety of the U.S. milk supply.

Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps
Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

USDA Authorizes CRP Graze and Hay Donations to Wildfire Victims
USDA Authorizes CRP Graze and Hay Donations to Wildfire Victims

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants can donate emergency grazing authority to ranchers in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas impacted by recent wildfires.

New Guide Helps Producers Maximize Values of Cull Cows
New Guide Helps Producers Maximize Values of Cull Cows

A new resource developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CattleFax helps cattle producers maximize profitability from their culling decisions.