Cash Fed Cattle Trades Up 5% From Last May

Cash fed cattle trades saw a 5% increase when compared to the same time period in 2020, according to USDA’s May Cattle on Feed report released this past Friday. The reported 11.7 million head on feed was the second highest total for a May 1 inventory since the report series began in 1996. This builds off of a strong April report, which listed a 33% increase year over year. The week of May 17th showed steady to higher trades for cash fed cattle with moderate volume. Southern cattle sold around $119 to $120 per cwt. (steady to $1 higher) while Northern went for $120 to $121 live and $191 dressed ($2 to $3 higher). Prices for feeder cattle were $1 to $4 higher. Get the full price breakdown for beef production.