Slaughter Cattle: Trade in the South was 3.00 lower at 137.00 and Northern dressed trade 2.00 lower at 218.00. In the 3 front months, Live Cattle futures closed from 1.27 to 2.10 lower. USDA’s most recent carcass weight data showed weights were 2 lbs. heavier than last week at 928 lbs., 7 lbs. heavier than a year ago and the heaviest this year.
Feeder Cattle: National average price for feeder steers @ 157.05, 0.99 lower with trade mostly steady to 3.00 lower. In the 3 front months, Feeder Cattle futures closed from 3.33 to 4.62 lower.
Stocker Calves: National average price for stocker steers @ 177.61, 0.84 higher with trade steady to 2.00 higher.
CME Feeder Cattle Index: 161.04, 0.47 lower than last Friday.
Boxed Beef Cutouts: Choice cutout 1.53 lower at 263.01 and the Select cutout 3.96 lower at 248.28. The Choice/Select spread at 14.73 was 2.43 higher than last week.
Cutter Cow Cutout: 1.13 lower at 227.45.
Slaughter Cows: Trade steady to 2.00 higher.
Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week ending Saturday, December 18, 2021 was estimated at 1128.3 million lbs. according to the USDA's Marketing Service. This was 0.8 percent higher than a week ago and 3.1 percent lower than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was 0.1 percent lower compared to the previous year.
Grain: For the week, corn 0.03 higher @ 5.83 with March futures @ 5.9325, up 0.0325. Wheat 0.04 lower @ 7.80 and the futures @ 7.7500, down 0.1025.
