Feeder Cattle futures softened Wednesday. Perhaps some of the softness had to do with the announcement yesterday that an E. coli outbreak in several states had been linked to a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder; more specifically, slivered onions (see below).

Toward the close, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.95 lower. Live Cattle futures were an average of 16¢ lower, except for 5¢ higher in away-Oct.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $188/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $187-$188 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $296.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.55 lower Wednesday afternoon at $321.41/cwt. Select was 97¢ higher at $295.77.

Turning to the grain complex, toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were fractionally higher to 3¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were little changed. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 6¢ higher.