Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mostly lower and feeders were sharply higher, watching corn and the direct cash markets. Lower feed costs boost profitability for feeder cattle. December live was down $.55 at $151.40 and February was $.35 lower at $154.90. November feeders were up $2 at $178.92 and January was $1.80 higher at $180.
Direct cash cattle business has been scattered. The USDA says there’s been some very light trade this week at $149 live in Texas, $153 live in the Western Corn Belt, and $243 dressed in Nebraska, not enough to set a trend.
