Week ending April 12, 2024

Cash cattle prices were lower with cattle futures trending lower as well. Dressed beef and corn were up. Fed cattle trade in the South was $2 lower at $182 with northern trade $2.50 lower at $184.50. Live cattle futures closed anywhere from $0.60 higher to $1.22 lower, and carcass weights remained steady at 924 lb. 

The feeder cattle national average was $254.26, which was $3.44 lower. The feeder cattle futures closed from $0 .10 to $3.97 lower. The stocker average was $2.79 lower at $319.38, and the cattle feeder index was $4.40 lower at $244.57. 

The Choice cutout was $3.40 higher at $300.57 and Select cutout was $0.84 higher at $295.54. This made the spread $5.03 — $2.56 wider than the previous week. Cutter cows were $2.18 higher at $269.57. Slaughter cows traded $1 lower to $5 higher. Total red meat production was estimated at 1047.5 million lb. and was 0.6% higher from the week before.