At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were mixed ahead of widespread direct business and Friday’s On Feed numbers from the USDA. April live cattle closed $.52 lower at $188.05 and June lives closed $.40 lower at $185. April feeder cattle closed $.02 lower at $255.07 and May feeders closed $.20 lower at $258.92.
Direct cash cattle trade activity was quiet on Tuesday. Bids didn’t surface. Early asking prices were floated around $188-plus live in the South, but were not established in the North.