Chicago cattle eked out gains, Friday, as the USDA’s Cattle on Feed report showed a slight decline in inventory.
Most active April live cattle futures settled at 193.950 cents per pound, up 0.150 cents. June live cattle closed at 190.325 cents, up 0.350 cents.
Most active March feeder cattle closed at 267.950 cents per pound, up 1.125 cents. April feeder cattle rose 1.175 cents to settle at 267.550 cents a pound.
Choice boxed beef settled at $310.77 per cwt, down $1.86, the USDA said in its afternoon report. Select boxed beef closed at $302.56 per cwt, down $0.62.
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Calves and cattle on feed for the U.S. slaughter market, for feedlots of 1,000 head or more, totalled 11.7 million head at the beginning of February, the USDA said today in its Cattle on Feed report. This was one per cent less than last February.
January placements in feedlots totalled 1.82 million head, two per cent above January 2024, while 1.87 million head were marketed, up one per cent from the previous year.
Most active April lean hog futures settled at 87.675 cents a pound, down 0.850 cents. June lean hogs settled at 100.625 cents, up 0.325 cents a pound.
The USDA reported pork carcass cutout value at $97.07 per cwt, up $3.04.
