Live cattle futures are falling $1.70 to $2 at midday Cash has been slow early this week with very little action early. The Thursday Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed no sales on the 1,356 head, with bids at $245-248. Feeder cattle futures are falling $4.12 to $4.50 so far on Thursday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back down $2.44 on July 7 to $370.75.
Export Sales data from USDA showed beef sales for 2026 at 13,977 MT for the week ending on 7/2. That was back up from last week after USDA issued a correction to 12,064 MT for the week of 6/25. Shipments were tallied at 14,492 MT, which was back down from last week.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were mixed in the Thursday morning report, with the Chc/Sel spread at $15.63. Choice boxes were down $1.38 at $379.82, with Select $1.10 higher to $364.19. USDA’s federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday was estimated at 108,000 head, taking the weekly total to 318,000 head. That was down 6,000 from the previous week and 32,028 head below the same week last year.
Aug 26 Live Cattle are at $235.625, down $2.000,
Oct 26 Live Cattle are at $231.925, down $1.625,
Dec 26 Live Cattle are at $231.950, down $1.700,
Aug 26 Feeder Cattle are at $357.625, down $4.425
Sep 26 Feeder Cattle are at $354.450, down $4.200
Oct 26 Feeder Cattle are at $350.500, down $4.125