Week ending Oct. 13, 2023

Fed cattle in the South were $1 higher from previous weeks at $183 while northern trade cattle were up to $3 higher at $186.  Feeder and stocker calves were around $1 lower while live cattle futures trended slightly higher with feeder cattle futures mostly mixed.

Feeder cattle were trading at $249.29 last week, although it was down from $254.17 compared to a month ago.  Both were substantially higher compared to a year ago when feeder cattle trade was $174.03.  Boxed beef maintained a similar pattern at $300.80.  Last month, trading was $305.71, up from a year ago at $246.98.  Beef remains in high demand throughout the market place.

With fall and preg check season coming into play, slaughter cow trade was mostly $4 lower up to $1 higher.  Cutter cow cutout was $6.53 lower at $231.28.

Under the federally inspected red meat production recorded by USDA, red meat production was estimated at 1,057.9 million pounds.  This is 0.2% higher than last week, however, this is 3.8% lower than a year ago.