Cattle futures fall as extreme cold slows cash market

CHICAGO, Jan 29 (Reuters) - CME live and feeder cattle futures ended lower on Thursday as cash markets stalled out in the face of extreme cold in much of the United States.

The low temperatures slowed processing operations this week and a harsh environment for animals raised outdoors, according to brokers.

In a press release on Wednesday, the Texas Department of Agriculture said weather conditions in the state had caused "extensive agricultural damage, including barn collapses, fencing failures, feed losses, and other critical infrastructure impacts."

Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at StoneX, said that while cash sales were slow this week because of the adverse weather they could be expected to pick up again next week.

Meanwhile, market players were awaiting the results of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's cattle inventory report on Friday, Suderman said.

The report is expected to show producers attempting to rebuild the tight cattle herd, he said, but, that will keep cattle supplies smaller in the near future as producers hold back heifers from slaughtering operations.

CME April live cattle LCJ26 finished 1.450 cents lower at 237.275 cents per pound, while March feeder cattle FCH26 finished down 0.725 cent 365.125 cents per pound.

CME April lean hogs LHJ26 ended down 0.25 cent at 87.70 cents per pound.

Meatpackers slaughtered an estimated 112,000 cattle, down from 114,000 cattle a week earlier, according to the USDA. They slaughtered 495,000 hogs, up from 490,000 a week ago.

The USDA priced choice boxed beef at $367.66 per hundredweight (cwt), down $2.08 from yesterday, and select boxed beef at $360.72 per cwt, down $2.85 from yesterday.

The USDA priced pork carcasses on Wednesday afternoon at $93.43 per cwt, down $1.62 from yesterday. It priced pork bellies at $126.84 per cwt, down $3.78 from the previous day.