Average cash cattle prices slowed their rate of decline last week, even though the spread between the weekly high and low expanded slightly. Traders last week reported cash cattle trades ranging from $159 to $160.50 per cwt.  However, the average price for slaughter steers in the Southern Plains last week was $159.37, down $0.45, or … Read More

Managed money continued to liquidate long positions in live cattle futures during the week ended Tuesday, taking their net long position to the lowest in more than a year and below that of swap dealers. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders Report showed managed money with a net long position of 62,751 … Read More

The Jan feeder cattle contract expired Thursday at $212.40 per cwt, $1.50 below the CME Feeder Cattle Index by which it is settled. Futures and cash markets don’t have to converge exactly, but since the contract is cash settled, traders holding short positions will have to pay those holding long positions the difference based on … Read More

The USDA’s semi-annual cattle inventory report is due Friday and is expected to show modest growth in the US cattle herd. Total cow slaughter last year was down 862,952 head, or 13.85%, to 5.366 million from 6.229 million, USDA figures show. The divergence began in early April as rain freshened pastures, after years of drought, … Read More

With much of the value of US meat production tied to exports, it’s not surprising that a work slowdown by West Coast longshoremen concerns some agricultural economists. The slowdown at 29 US West Coast ports has been in place since Oct. 31 after the Pacific Maritime Association, and the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union could … Read More

The bloom is off the rose for the cattle industry as the futures market, cash prices for slaughter-ready steers, feeder cattle and even slaughter cows fall in January. USDA statistics show Southern Plains slaughter steer prices last week averaged $159.82 per cwt, down $9.89 from $169.65 in the first full week in January – a … Read More

Managed money and cattle producers took themselves to the lowest net long or short positions in more than a year during the week ended Tuesday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said. Managed money liquidated long positions, while producers covered short positions. The CFTC’s weekly Commitments of Traders report showed managed money with a net 70,319 … Read More