Live and fed cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were higher on Wednesday, a few hours before United States President Donald Trump unveiled his reciprocal tariff plan.
The June live cattle contract added 1.975 cents at 207.400 cents per pound.
May feeder cattle futures tacked on 0.775 of a cent at 287.925 cents per pound.
Tuesday’s federally inspected cattle slaughter was 123,000 head, down 16,000 compared to the previous Tuesday.
The USDA reported wholesale boxed beef prices were lower on Wednesday afternoon, with choice boxes down $2.32 at $339.90 per hundredweight, while select boxes gave up $3.24 at $318.83.
Lean hog prices were mostly lower on Wednesday. The June contract lost a half cent at 96.675 cents per pound. The USDA reported Tuesday’s federally inspected hog slaughter was 489,000 head, down 10,000 from the previous Tuesday.
