The EXPORT sales report showed beef exports totaled 14,153 tonnes, rebounding from the low seen last week of the calendar year. Japan was the largest buyer , buying 4,300 tonnes, while South Korea bought 2,500 tonnes. Shipments totaled 15,845 tonnes, a three-week high.
USDA wholesale block beef prices were lower in Friday’s report. Choice beef fell 46 cents to $303.34, and Select beef sold 52 cents lower at $276.14. The Chc/Sel spread widened to $27.20. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter this week was 606,000 HEAD, down 13,000 head from the previous week and 33,367 head from the same week last year.
Beef processors' margins fell further, with losses of $72.90 per head on Friday, compared with losses of $52.10 per head on Thursday and losses of $51.95 per head last week, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.
WEEKLY COST OF CUT OUT CAT.CHOICE
CATTLE SALES
Sale of cattle, heads
Average weight
Week 45
Week 46
Growth per week,%
Week 45
Week 46
Growth per week,%
Bulls (live weight)
2 776
20 843
650.8%
1,557
1,547
-0.6%
Heifers (live weight)
1,588
8 589
440.9%
1,400
1 348
-3.7%
Bulls (slaughter weight)
5 099
7 617
49.4%
994
982
-1.2%
Heifers (slaughter weight)
1 094
1 080
-1.3%
860
865
0.6%
WEEKLY WEIGHTED AVERAGE BULL PRICE
BEEF PRODUCTION
Indicator
Week 46
Previous week
A year ago
Growth per week,%
Growth per year, %
Volume of cattle slaughter
606,000
619,000
639,000
-2.1%
-5.2%
Live weight
1,425
1 423
1 388
0.1%
2.7%
Slaughter weight
869
868
839
0.1%
3.6%
Beef Production (million pounds)
525.6
536.4
535.4
-2.0%
-1.8%
CME: Live Cattle Futures
Week 45
Week 46
Growth per week,%
December
183.70
182.95
-0.4%
February
185.30
185.25
0.0%
April
186.53
187.40
0.5%
CME: Feeder Cattle Futures
November
245.43
251.10
2.3%
January
241.43
247.23
2.4%
March
239.38
245.65
2.6%
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