Chicago cattle futures rose as the USDA’s ‘Cattle on Feed’ report showed inventories two per cent down from a year ago.
Most-active April live cattle futures gained 1.850 cents to close at 230.000 cents a pound. June contracts settled at 223.825 cents per pound, up 1.725 cents.
Most-active March feeder cattle futures gained 4.800 cents to settle at 329.925 cents a pound. January contracts gained 5.325 cents to close 346.150 cents a pound.
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Choice boxed beef was valued at $361.63 per cwt on Friday afternoon, up $4.35. Select beef rose by $2.05 to $346.02 per cwt.
The Dec. 19 Cattle on Feed report numbered cattle and calves on feed at 11.7 million head as of Dec. 1, down two per cent from the same month in 2024. November feedlot placements were 11 per cent below 2024.
“Placements were the lowest for November since the series began in 1996,” the report said.
Marketings of fed cattle were 12 per cent below 2024 and the second-lowest since the series began in 1996.
Hog futures also rose. Most-active February lean hogs gained 0.375 cents to close at 84.700 cents a pound. April contracts settled at 89.250 cents per pound, up 0.175 cents.
Pork carcass cutout value sat at $99.76 per cwt, up $2.33 on Friday afternoon, the USDA reported.
