Week ending July 26, 2024

Fed cattle cash and future trade closed up last week. Northern and southern trade were each up $2, at $190 and $198 respectively. Across the front three months of trade, live cattle futures closed the week from $4.63 to $5.47 higher.

Stocker and feeder steer trade was variable for the week. The national average price for stocker steers was $316.37—$1.14 lower, with trade ranging from $4 lower to $2 higher. The national average price for feeder steers closed $1.02 higher at $264.89. Trade ranged from $3 lower to $4 higher. In the front three months of trade, feeder cattle futures closed the week up, ranging from $2.65 to $4.10 higher.

Boxed beef cutouts were slightly down for the week. The Choice cutout closed the week of trade $0.06 lower at $313.77. The Select cutout was $1.34 lower at $297.46. The Choice/Select spread settled $1.28 wider for the week at $16.31.

Slaughter cow trade was mostly lower for the week. The cutter cow cutout settled at $292.24 for the week, $2.77 lower. Slaughter cow trade was steady to $4 lower.

Total red meat production for the week was estimated at 1,023.5 million lb. This was up 2.6% from the week before and 2% higher than one year ago. Hot carcass weights were estimated at 915 lb. for the week, compared to 916 lb. the week before, and 893 lb. last year. Cumulative meat production for year to date is 0.1% lower than last year at this time.