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Cash fed cattle prices dropped sharply to about $110 per cwt as August steer and heifer slaughter ran about 15.9 percent above the prior year. Heifer slaughter rose about 22 percent and cow slaughter about 19 percent, suggesting faster marketings and possible herd expansion.
The live-to-cutout spread also widened, implying larger packer margins.
Heavier slaughter supplies reduce the cash price packers pay for live cattle, which flows through to feeder and live cattle futures. Larger cow and heifer slaughter also points to a longer-term shift in herd size that could affect future supply.
u.osu.eduSmith atSep 7, 2016After 144 past bearish report events, Live Cattle moved a median -0.1% over 5 sessions (49% higher; middle half -1.1% to +0.9%), and +0.5% over 20.
After 126 past bearish report events, Feeder Cattle moved a median +0.1% over 5 sessions (52% higher; middle half -1.3% to +2.0%), and +0.6% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
