Cash cattle prices slip as beef demand shifts and slaughter rates lag

ZISK
Jun 30
1 min read

Cash fed cattle traded at $228 to $231 per hundredweight in the South last week, $4 to $7 lower than the previous week. In the North, cattle traded $236 to $237 per hundredweight, $5 to $6 lower. Dressed trade occurred in the North at $376 per hundredweight, $4 lower.

Packers purchased 59,000 head on the cash-negotiated market last week, 1,000 head more than the week prior. Packers are buying for a holiday-shortened week next week. Cash is expected to trade lower this week.

Weekly slaughter was estimated to be 554,000 head, 4,000 less than the week prior and 61,600 less than a year ago. This week’s slaughter is expected to be in the realm of 570,000 head, potentially more on account of improved packer margins due to last week’s lower cash cattle trade.

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