Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

Cattle futures closed lower for a third consecutive session on Friday, but off session lows. Part of the early pressure was likely tied to some worries about the Secretary of Agriculture announcing a timetable for the U.S. border reopening during scheduled remarks in Texas, but she made no mention. Friday's Cattle on Feed report [...]

Cattle futures extended losses Thursday with likely technical selling, profit taking and positioning ahead of Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.21 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.71 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on moderate demand in the [...]

Cattle futures were lower Wednesday. Part of it likely stemmed from rumors, yet again, about the reopening of the U.S. border to Mexican feeder cattle imports. Some profit taking ahead of Friday's Monthly Cattle on Feed report could have also added pressure. Early estimates see March placements and marketings down 6-7% with the April [...]

Cattle futures were higher Tuesday, bolstered by more bullish outside markets and last week's stronger cash trade. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.47 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.65 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions [...]

Cattle futures were mixed but mostly higher Monday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 53¢ lower to an average of 42¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.43 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to moderate demand in all major cattle [...]

Cattle futures closed higher Friday, and on the week, buoyed by steady to stronger early negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 96¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.98 higher, with gains likely capped by wonderment about when the U.S. border will re-open to Mexican feeder [...]

Cattle futures eased higher Wednesday with stronger outside markets and growing expectations for steady to stronger negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.04 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.68 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to moderate demand [...]

Cattle futures rose cautiously on Wednesday, helped along by falling oil prices and higher outside markets tied to the announced ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 85¢ higher, except for an average of 8¢ lower in two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average [...]

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Last week, FOB live prices were $7-$8 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $245-$246/cwt., mostly $8 higher in Kansas at mainly $246 and $10 higher in the North at [...]

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on moderate demand in the Southern Plains to limited on moderate demand in the North through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. For the week, however, FOB live prices were mostly $245/cwt., which was $7 higher in the Southern Plains and $10 higher [...]

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices took a strong step higher Thursday with moderate trade on moderate to good demand in the North, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were mainly $10 higher at mainly $245/cwt. Dressed delivered prices in Nebraska were $13 higher at $385. Although too few to trend, there [...]

Cattle futures continued to gain Wednesday, helped by positive outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 50¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.05 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all cattle feeding regions through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural [...]

Cattle futures continued higher Tuesday, supported by more bullish outside markets and resurgent wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.02 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.46 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all cattle feeding regions through Tuesday [...]

Cattle futures rose again Monday, building on last week's gains, supported by higher negotiated cash fed cattle trade in the Southern Plains late Friday and firmer wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.15 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.24 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle [...]

Cattle futures extended gains Friday, supported by steady negotiated cash fed cattle prices and a friendly quarterly Hogs and Pigs report indicating the breeding inventory was 1% less year over year. Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.87 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.93 higher. Week to week on Friday, [...]

Cattle futures faded early pressure to make gains Thursday, supported by early negotiated cash fed cattle trade at steady money. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 81¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.56 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light to moderate on moderate to good [...]

Cattle futures were lower Wednesday, pressured by a sharp decrease in Choice wholesale beef values. Choice boxed beef cutout value was $8.22 lower in the afternoon at $391.69/cwt. Select was 99¢ higher at $395.49. The Choice-Select spread was -$3.80. The last time the spread approached that level was in February 2022. Toward the close, [...]

Cattle futures were mostly higher on Tuesday, despite resurgent oil prices and volatile equity markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 47¢ higher, except for an average of 15¢ lower in the front two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.91 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was [...]

Cattle futures extended gains on Monday, helped by more bullish outside markets, and despite more placements than expected in Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report.Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 84¢ higher, except for 45¢ lower in the back contract. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.70 higher. Negotiated [...]

Cattle futures were higher Friday, helped along by steady cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.34 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.60 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $3.46 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $6.96 higher. [...]

Cattle futures were lower Thursday, weighed down by bearish outside markets, tied to escalating energy prices and uncertainty stemming from the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.25 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.54 lower ($3.05 to $6.42 lower). Negotiated cash fed cattle [...]

Live Cattle futures eased higher on Wednesday, bolstered by thoughts that negotiated cash fed cattle prices could increase this week, and despite bearish outside markets. Feeder Cattle futures wobbled, though, with resurgent Corn futures and perhaps positioning ahead of Friday's Monthly Cattle on Feed report. Broadly, analysts see February placements on par year over [...]

Cattle futures wobbled Friday with uneven outside markets and wonderment about the potential strike at the JBS plant in Greeley next week. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 42¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were mixed, from an average of 64¢ lower to an average of 68¢ higher. Week to week on Friday, Live [...]

Cattle futures firmed Thursday, helped by rising wholesale beef values and the cash premium to futures. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.40 higher, except for 95¢ lower in the back contract. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 61¢ higher, except for 5¢ lower in spot March and $2.57 [...]

Cattle futures lost ground Wednesday, as bearishness increased in outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.97 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.19 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB [...]

Cattle futures gained Tuesday, helped by the decline in Crude Oil futures and the continued increase in wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.49 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.27 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on moderate demand in Nebraska [...]

Cattle futures were sharply lower again Monday, but off sessions lows, pressured by a range of factors, including last week's lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices, news that the JBS plant in Greeley, Colo. was cancelling slaughter at the plant this week ahead of the potential strike, and spiking Crude oil futures pressuring outside [...]

Cattle futures were sharply lower Friday, pressured by bearish outside markets and another week of lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Also on Friday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, which represents workers at the JBS plant, gave notice that it was cancelling its extension agreement effective 11:59 p.m., March 15. So, [...]

Cattle futures were mixed on Thursday.   Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 34¢ higher on continued fundamental strength. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.31 lower with likely profit taking from the previous session's sharp gains. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in [...]

Recently surging wholesale beef values and more positive outside market helped Cattle futures rally higher Wednesday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $4.11 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $6.96 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions [...]

Cattle futures were mostly able to hold the previous session's gains on Tuesday after early pressure tied to declining outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 64¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from unchanged to an average of 72¢ lower in three contracts (2¢ to $1.97 lower) [...]

Cattle futures were under early pressure Monday from lower outside markets tied to uncertainty about the impact of the U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran. Ultimately, though, Cattle futures trended mainly higher. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.23 higher (65¢ to $1.57 higher), except for $1.42 lower in the back contract. [...]

Cattle futures plumbed lower Friday, with continued concern about a potential strike at the JBS packing plant in Greeley, Colo., lower cash fed cattle prices, bearish outside markets, as well as month-end profit taking and technical selling. Live Cattle futures were an average of $3.49 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $7.51 [...]

Cattle futures stepped lower Thursday, pressured by wariness over a potential strike at the JBS packing plant in Greeley, CO and softer early cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.84 lower, except for unchanged in expiring Feb. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.05 lower. [...]

Cattle futures continued higher Wednesday, helped along by another day of higher wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.19 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.99 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Wednesday [...]

Cattle futures firmed and crept higher Tuesday without the previous day's pressure from outside markets and supported by higher wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 36¢ higher, except for 7¢ lower in near Apr. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 59¢ higher, except for an average [...]

Cattle futures closed lower again Monday, pressured by bearish outside markets and despite Friday's neutral-to-friendly Cattle on Feed report. Uncertainty also lingered about the potential strike at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colo. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.59 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.16 lower. [...]

Cattle futures closed lower Friday, pressured by the lack of direction from negotiated cash fed cattle trade before the close, the Cattle on Feed report (see below) issued after the close of trade and wariness over the union at the JBS plant in Greeley voting whether to strike. Live Cattle futures were an average [...]

Cattle futures meandered in two-sided trading with thoughts of steady to stronger cash fed cattle prices this week and likely positioning ahead of Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report. Depending on the estimates, analysts peg January feedlot placements 4% less, January marketings 13% less and the Feb. 1 inventory of cattle on feed down [...]

Cattle futures mostly edged higher Wednesday, maintaining the previous session's strong gains and expectations for steady to stronger cash fed cattle prices this week. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 11¢ higher, except for unchanged to an average of 15¢ lower in two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average [...]

Cattle futures closed higher Tuesday, supported by last week's stronger cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were $1.96 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.01 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, according to the [...]

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was 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 mostly $3 higher in the Southern Plains at mainly $248/cwt., mostly $5 higher in Nebraska at mainly $345 and $3-$4 higher in the [...]

Cattle futures eased mostly lower Friday, awaiting full development of the week's cash fed cattle trade. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 21¢ lower, except for 57¢ higher in spot Feb. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 33¢ higher, except for 27¢ lower in three contracts. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was [...]

Cattle futures eased lower Thursday, awaiting the week's cash fed cattle direction and more bearish outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 13¢ lower to an average of 23¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 63¢ lower, except for 10¢ higher in one contract. [...]

Cattle futures rose Wednesday with expectations of steady to higher cash fed cattle prices again this week. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.08 higher ($3.45 higher near the front to $1.17 higher at the back). Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.11 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade [...]

Cattle futures eased lower Tuesday amid two-sided trade and waiting this week's cash fed cattle direction. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 55¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.06 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through [...]

Cattle futures mostly extended gains Monday, buoyed by last week's stronger cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 68¢ higher, except for 47¢ lower and unchanged in the back two contracts.   Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 92¢ higher, except for $1.02 lower in the [...]

Cattle futures closed higher Friday, supported by steady to stronger cash fed cattle prices, recovering from the previous session's sell-off tied to news union workers voted to authorize a strike at the JBS beef packing plant in Greeley, Colo., though no timetable was set for the strike. Live Cattle futures closed an average of [...]

Cattle futures closed higher Monday, buoyed by last week's stronger cash fed cattle prices and the friendly Cattle inventory report (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.72 higher.  Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.67 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in [...]

Cattle futures closed lower at the end of a volatile session Friday. Although cash fed cattle prices improved, wariness remained ahead of the semiannual Cattle inventory report (see below), while traders squared books for end of the week and month. Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.11 lower (47¢ to $2.57 lower), except [...]

Cattle futures eased mostly lower Thursday with likely profit taking, the lack of direction in weekly cash fed cattle trade and positioning ahead of USDA's Cattle report due to be published on Friday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.o5 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.27 lower, [...]