Cattle futures rise as US meatpacking slaughtering recovers

Cattle futures rose at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as slaughtering rates began to recover following recent disruptions. Meatpackers processed approximately 108,000 cattle, rebounding from a period where daily slaughtering had fallen below 100,000 due to an immigration crackdown that discouraged employees from working at slaughterhouses in southwest Kansas.

Rising boxed beef prices supported the market, with choice cuts increasing to $382.66 per hundredweight. While cattle futures saw gains, lean hog futures experienced mixed results, with some months closing lower due to profit-taking and weak midday wholesale business. Market analysts noted that if processing rates remain near normal levels, the market may move past the recent labor disruptions.