Live and fed cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were lower on Thursday, while those for lean hogs were higher.
The June live cattle contract retreated 3.175 cents at 195.200 cents per pound.
May feeder cattle futures dropped 2.900 cents at 275.300 cents per pound.
The USDA reported wholesale boxed beef prices were lower on Thursday afternoon, as choice boxes lost $3.57 at $334.29 per hundredweight and select boxes fell $5.65 at $314.96.
The USDA also said beef export sales for the week ended April 3 of 11,855 tonnes, the highest in three weeks.
Wednesday’s federally inspected cattle slaughter was estimated at 123,000 head, down 2,000 from the previous Wednesday.
The June contract for lean hog prices added 1.475 cents on Thursday at 93.175 cents per pound.
The USDA said export sales of pork amounted to 23,854 tonnes, down by more than half from the previous week.
The department reported Wednesday’s federally inspected hog slaughter reached 487,000 head, up by 25,000 from a week ago.
