Live cattle futures saw mixed trade, as Feb was held up by Cash and 57 cents higher on Friday. Other contracts were slightly lower, as February was up $5.32 this week. Cash trade was slow to get kicked off this week, as things settled in at 244-245 in the North and up to $248 in the South. Feeder cattle futures closed with most contracts slipping lower, as March was up 42 cents on Friday but $1.27 lower on the week. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up 4 cents to $373.91 on February 12. The markets will ...

Group 1 - Live cattle futures are experiencing a decline of 12 to 50 cents in the front months, with April futures up by 47 cents. Cash trade was noted at $208 in the Western Corn Belt and $330 in the North for dressed cattle [1][4] - Feeder cattle futures have increased by $1.67 to $2.75, while the CME Feeder Cattle Index decreased by $3.34 to $336.38. The weekly OKC feeder cattle auction had an estimated 3,302 head for sale, with feeders down $10-20 and calves down $20-40 [2] - Beef export sales for the week ending October 9 were reported at 12,624 MT, marking a three-week low, with shipments at 12,602 MT [3] Group 2 - The USDA reported an increase in Wholesale Boxed Beef prices, with the Choice/Select spread widening to $13.08. Choice boxes decreased by $1.56 to $372.05, while Select boxes increased by $3.46 to $358.97. The estimated cattle slaughter for Monday was 120,000 head, which is 4,000 head above last Monday but 2,245 head below the same week last year [4] - Specific live cattle prices include December 25 at $207.075 (down $0.125), February 26 at $207.050 (down $0.475), and April 26 at $208.375 (up $0.475). Feeder cattle prices include January 26 at $306.650 (up $1.675), March 26 at $300.400 (up $2.600), and April 26 at $298.850 (up $2.750) [4]