What's more, prospective cattle market bulls were less than optimistic about this week's cash trade after packer buyers last week trimmed bids as the week progressed. Also, choice and select midday boxed beef values were down $0.49 and $0.92 after prices for both cuts last week peaked at 3 1/2-year highs.

Nonetheless, April eventually overshot the Friday chart gap by day's end with the help of relatively active April/June bull spreading and speculators pricing in what they believe could be at least steady cash bids this week.

Iowa Grain and JP Morgan were among June buyers. Fimat and Cadent Financial sold June.

Feeder cattle futures closed higher on CBOT feedgrain losses, April's discount to CME's feeder cattle index, spreading and technical-related purchases.

April live cattle settled at 97.30 cents per pound, up 25 points, and June was at 92.90, a gain of 20 points. April feeder cattle finished up 47 points at 107.72 cents, and May closed 80 points higher at 108.52.

Source: FXSTREET