Cattle futures sharply lower ahead of direct business

Cattle futures sharply lower ahead of direct business

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were sharply lower ahead of the week’s direct business.  June live cattle closed $2.17 lower at $174.97 and August lives closed $2.57 lower at $173.10.  May feeders closed $3.45 lower at $244.57 and August feeders closed $4.12 lower at $255.50. 

Direct cash cattle trade was quiet again Tuesday. No bids to speak of, but a few early asking prices did surface around $186 live in the South, while it was quiet in the North.