Live Cattle
The October Live Cattle contract tried to rally on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, trading up to 109.70 mid-morning before breaking down to the session lows at 108.075. This is just below the 108.675 support level and a small bounce had the October contract end the day at 108.525. A rally above 108.675 could lead to a test of the Wednesday high. Resistance is at 110.80. A breakdown from the session low could see a test support at 107.30 and then the 106.00 support level. The negotiated cash market traded at 111.00 for live cattle and 175.00 – 177.00 for dressed on Tuesday. The fedcattleexchange auction was held on Wednesday morning with 1,164 head for sale. There weren’t any official sales during the auction as producers passed on the minimum bid levels. There was one actual sale at 112.00, but that was passed over by the producer. Wednesday afternoon boxed beef cutout values were lower on Choice and Select on light to moderate demand and heavy offerings. Choice was down 1.44 at 197.51 and Select down 0.83 to 195.04 on 201 loads. The choice/ select spread widened to 2.47. The estimated cattle slaughter for Wednesday was reported at 115,000.
Feeder Cattle
The September Feeder Cattle contract couldn’t take advantage of Tuesday’s strong rally. It failed to get above the 100 DMA (146.75) as the session high was 146.725. The failure led to a breakdown the nearly erased Tuesday’s big rally. It broke down below support (143.50), making the session low at 142.95 and ending the day at 143.075. A breakdown below 142.95 could see a test of the lows down at 140.75. A recovery from 143.50 could see a retest of the 146.025 resistance level.
Lean Hogs
The October Lean Hogs contract failed to break out above the 71.30 resistance level. It pierced it with the session high price of 71.325, but couldn’t build momentum and trade to the next resistance level (72.875). It failed and broke down to test the 67.90 support level. The session low was 67.95. Pork belly prices collapsed as it was down 13.59 to 182.54. Pork Belly demand has been a key driver for the Lean Hogs and a continued break down in price could lead to a pullback in the futures market. Trading below the 67.90 support level could lead to a test of support at 66.75 and the 64.90.