Live cattle are posting midday gains of $2 to $3.40 following the USDA H5N1 announcement. Cash trade has been slow to develop this week with a few $186 in KS reported by the USDA, with NE at $187. Both would be an improvement on the week, but noted volume has been light. Feeders are recovering all of yesterday’s losses, with gains of $3.45 to $4.50. The CME Feeder Cattle index was up just 3 cents on April 30 to $247.06, with futures anticipating a decline. 

Later in the day on Wednesday, USDA issues a release stating their tests on the ground beef in states where dairy herds have tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu, came back negative for the virus. 

Export Sales of beef in the week of 4/25 totaled 22,468 MT, a calendar year high. South Korea was the top buyer of 9,600 MT, with 5,200 MT sold to Japan. Shipments totaled 14,631 MT, an improvement from last week. Japan was the top destination at 3,800 MT, with 3,400 MT on its way to South Korea.

Census data converted to a carcass weight scale showed 256.1 million lbs of US beef exported in March. That was down 10.4% from last year and was a 5-year low.

USDA’s Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were mixed in the Thursday morning report. Choice boxes were down another 20 cents at $293.34, with Select up 47 cents at $288.54. That took the Chc/Sel spread to $4.80. USDA estimated Wednesday’s federally inspected cattle slaughter at 123,000 head, taking the weekly total to 360,000 head. That is 3,000 head below last week and down 15,515 head from the same week last year.

Jun 24 Live Cattle  are at $177.250, up $3.400,

Aug 24 Live Cattle  are at $174.325, up $3.225,

Oct 24 Live Cattle  are at $177.825, up $2.975,

May 24 Feeder Cattle  are at $244.875, up $3.450

Aug 24 Feeder Cattle  are at $256.300, up $4.550

Sep 24 Feeder Cattle  are at $256.925, up $4.325