Live cattle futures saw gains across most contracts on Thursday, rising between 50 to 80 cents, with the October contract notably up $3.35 ahead of Friday’s expiration.
Cash trade activity reflected prices around $230 in the North earlier this week, with other bids hovering near that figure. In the South, bids reached as high as $235, while additional offers were reported in the $228 to $230 range. The Thursday Fed Cattle Exchange online auction recorded sales at $235.50 on 443 of the 1,706 head offered.
Feeder cattle futures presented a mixed picture. The expiring October contract declined by 70 cents, whereas other months experienced increases ranging from $1.50 to $3. The CME Feeder Cattle Index fell by $3.63 to settle at $356.62 on October 28.
USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in Thursday’s morning report, with the Choice/Select spread at $18.50. Despite the spread, Choice boxes dropped $3.29 to $378.09, while Select boxes decreased by $2.20 to $359.59.
USDA federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday totaled 119,000 head. The week-to-date slaughter figure reached 343,000 head, which is 16,000 head above last week but still 27,957 head short compared to the same week last year.
**Live Cattle Futures Prices (as of October 25):**
– October 25 Live Cattle: $234.75, up $3.35
– December 25 Live Cattle: $231.30, up $0.40
– February 26 Live Cattle: $230.03, up $0.58
**Feeder Cattle Futures Prices:**
– October 25 Feeder Cattle: $347.18, down $0.70
– November 25 Feeder Cattle: $343.70, up $1.63
– January 26 Feeder Cattle: $336.28, up $2.25
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*Disclosure:* On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not hold, either directly or indirectly, positions in any securities mentioned in this article. All information provided is for informational purposes only. For more details, please see the [Barchart Disclosure Policy](#).
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*The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nasdaq, Inc.*
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/cattle-holding-higher-thursday
