Firmer fed cattle prices

The percentage of cattle slaughtered each week during the periods of low slaughter volumes is reporting smaller volumes of cash sales. This is not surprising given the committed cattle in the large feeding companies necessarily contributes to a larger percent of the weekly slaughter when volumes drop. This condition contributes to more volatility in the cash trades. Sales last week were US$/cwt 6 higher in the south and US$/cwt 2-4 higher in the north with dressed sales mainly $7 higher. Sales in Texas and Kansas were mainly US$/cwt 210 and in the north most sales were 212-214. Dressed sales in the north are noted at US$/cwt 333-5 mostly at 335, The AG Center said.