Live cattle futures are trading with midday losses of $2 to $3.30. Some light trade volume was reported on Thursday with $188 sales in KS. This morning’s Central Stockyards Fed Cattle Exchange saw sales on one lot of TX cattle for $191 using their BidTheGrid™ method, with live bids of 187 in TX. Feeder cattle futures are down $4.55 to $5.40 so far on the session.  The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down just 4 cents at $258.69 on July 30. 

Export Sales data showed beef totaling 17,710 MT in sales for 2024, a 10-week high. Actual export shipments were tallied at 16,209 MT, slightly below last week.

USDA wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday AM report. Choice boxes were down $1.34 at $313.43, with Select products $1.12 lower @ $299.04. The Chc/Sel spread widened to $14.39.  USDA estimated Wednesday’s FI slaughter at 122,000 head, taking the weekly total to 360,000 head. That is even with last week 8,900 head below the same week a year ago. 

Aug 24 Live Cattle  are at $185.075, down $2.050,

Oct 24 Live Cattle  are at $183.775, down $2.900,

Dec 24 Live Cattle  are at $184.600, down $3.275,

Aug 24 Feeder Cattle  are at $252.700, down $4.550

Sep 24 Feeder Cattle  are at $251.275, down $5.825

Oct 24 Feeder Cattle  are at $250.400, down $5.750