Here's an excerpt from a cattle update, take it for what it is:
CATTLE
- Cattle trade waited until Friday to get going as packers resisted paying up for cattle and feedlots held for higher money. By the end of the day, it looked like trade was very light at mostly steady money in the south, and steady to up $1.00 in the north. Volumes were light enough in all locations that we hesitate to even call a trend. Only about 5 thsd head traded in the south at mostly $161.00 live. In the north, live trade ranged $161.00-$163.50 live and $258-$260 dressed. With kill/cut margins back in the red, packers were determined not to pay up in most cases. Many feedlots resisted the steady bids; however, noting that cattle numbers are tightening and the best demand of the year is just ahead of the market. Packers reduced slaughter sharply last week after margins fell back down into the red. Slaughter was just 524 thsd head, 13 thsd head fewer than the previous week and down 8.7% from the same week last year. Continued heavy cattle weights resulted in beef production that was down just 5.9% from last year.