Cattle futures softened Monday with likely profit taking and positioning.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $4.16 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.54 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $1 lower in the Texas Panhandle at $256/cwt., $1 lower to $1 higher in Kansas at $256-$258, mainly $1 lower in Nebraska at $256 and steady to $2 lower in the western Corn Belt at $256. Dressed delivered prices were mainly $405, which was mostly steady.

The five-area direct weekly weighted FOB live fed steer price was 33¢ lower at $256.53. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was 53¢ lower at $404.66.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 50¢ lower Monday afternoon at $392.20/cwt. Select was $4.60 lower at $378.09.

Corn and Soybean futures tried to firm on Monday and Kansas City wheat was higher.

Toward the close, and through near Mar contracts, Corn futures were fractionally higher to 2¢ lower. Soybean futures were fractionally lower to 4¢ lower. Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were 5¢ to 8¢ higher.