At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle closed mostly higher, with boxed beef higher at midday. February live cattle closed $.47 higher at $137.05 and April live cattle closed $.02 higher at $140.95. January feeder cattle closed $.85 lower at $162.57 and March feeder cattle closed $.15 lower at $164.32.
It was a relatively quiet Thursday for direct cash cattle trade activity. With a handful of deals reported anywhere from $134 to $138, mostly $136 to $138, $3 to $4 lower than last week’s weighted averages. With the light trade volumes so far this week, more business is expected before the end of the day Friday. So far this week, Southern live deals have had a range of $134 to $138, mostly $137 to $138, which is $2 to $3 lower than last week’s weighted averages. Northern dressed trade has had a range of $216 to $220, mostly $218, $2 lower than the previous week’s weighted average basis in Nebraska.
At the Huss Livestock Market in Nebraska, compared to last week steers under 700 pounds sold steady to $5 lower and steers over 700 pounds were $1 to $4 higher.
