U.S. livestock: Cattle slip back, hogs gain

Chicago cattle futures slipped back on Friday after Thursday’s pause. Hog futures crept upward.

Most-active December live cattle futures closed at 229.675 cents a pound, down 1.425 cents. February contracts closed at 227.675 cents per pound, down 1.825 cents.

Most-traded January feeder cattle futures settled at 331.900 cents per pound, down 2.325 cents. March feeders lost 2.100 cents to close at 327.125 cents a pound.

Choice boxed beef was valued at $378.13 per cwt in the USDA’s afternoon report, down $0.14. Select boxed beef lost $0.87 to close at $358.65 per cwt.

Most-traded December lean hog futures closed up 0.450 cents at 81.275 cents per pound. February lean hogs settled at 82.525 cents a pound, up 0.425 cents.

Pork carcass cutout value ended the afternoon at $101.95 per cwt, up $1.67.

Average hog weights in areas including Iowa, southern Minnesota and South Dakota rose to 291.2 pounds in the week that ended on October 25, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That was up from 290.1 pounds a week earlier and 286 pounds a year ago.

-With files from Reuters