Sunday 4th May 2025

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle were higher and feeder cattle were mostly higher ahead of the week’s direct business and the higher box beef prices.  December live cattle closed $.25 higher at $108.55 and February live cattle closed $.12 higher at $110.52.  November feeder cattle closed $.42 lower at $136.97 and January feeders closed $.07 lower at $134.05.

Direct cattle trade activity was typical for a Monday, quiet.  Showlists this week are higher in Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, but slightly lower in Texas.  Bids and asking prices have yet to surface.  And it’s more than likely significant trade volume will hold out until later in the week. 

At the Oklahoma National Stockyards, compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers sold $10 to $12 higher.  Steer and heifer calves were $10 to $15 higher.  The USDA says demand was good to very good and quality was average to attractive.  Less than ideal weather conditions limited this week’s offering and receipts were down slightly on the week and down significantly on the year.  Feeder supply included 57 percent steers and 38 percent of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 458 to 499 pounds brought $156 to $173 and feeder steers 522 to 548 pounds brought $151.50 to $159.  Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 510 to 549 pounds brought $130 to $133.50 and feeder heifers 564 to 598 pounds brought $129.85 to $130. 

Boxed beef closed firm to higher on good demand for moderate offerings.  Choice closed $.55 higher at $208.65 and Select is $1.38 higher at $192.62.  The Choice/Select spread was $16.03. Estimated cattle slaughter is 119,000 head – up 4,000 on the week and 3,000 on the year. 

Lean hog futures closed mostly lower on long-term supply and demand concerns and the lower cash trade.  December lean hogs closed $.37 higher at $65.95 and February lean hogs closed $.25 lower at $65.30. 

Cash hogs closed lower with a fairly light negotiated run. 

    

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