Cattle Push Rally into the New Year

Austin Schroeder Barchart Thu Jan 2, 5:20PM CST
Cows looking out from pen ear tagged by Manfred Antranias Zimmer via Pixabay

Live cattle futures posted gains of 50 cents to $2 on Thursday. Cash trade has been slow this week, with some $196 reported in KS, a $3-4 climb from last week. This morning’s Fed Cattle Exchange from Central Stockyards showing sales on 136 of the 1,140 head at $194 using the BidTheGrid™ method. Feeder cattle futures saw gains of 95 cents to $3.45 on Thursday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up 72 cents from the day prior at $261.77 on January 1.

USDA wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday afternoon report. Choice boxes were down 74 cents at $323.48/cwt and Select 29 cents lower @ $294.23. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter at 125,000 head on Thursday, taking the weekly total to 350,000 head. That is up 75,000 head from last week but down 23,234 head from the same week last year.  

Feb 25 Live Cattle  closed at $193.600, up $2.000,

Apr 25 Live Cattle  closed at $196.050, up $1.775,

Jun 25 Live Cattle  closed at $191.350, up $1.725,

Jan 25 Feeder Cattle  closed at $266.475, up $3.450,

Mar 25 Feeder Cattle  closed at $266.200, up $3.225,

Apr 25 Feeder Cattle  closed at $266.525, up $2.975,


On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.