Cattle Posting Midday Gains on Thursday

Live cattle futures are $4.50 to $4.75 higher at midday. Cash trade has picked up in the north this week at $345-350 dressed, steady on the week, with live sales at $218. The Thursday Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed $343 dressed sales on 80 head, with a few bids of $218-219 on other lots. Feeder cattle futures are rallying $7.25 to $7.90. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up 4 cents on September 1 to $329.18.

Export Sales data from USDA showed beef sales for 2026 at just 12,937 MT for the week ending on 8/27. That was a 3-week high. Shipments were tallied at 12,026 MT, which was back up from last week.

Beef exports in July were tallied at 198.95 million lbs according to Census data converted to a carcass basis. That was the lowest July total since 2009.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday morning report, with the Chc/Sel widening to $26.30. Choice boxes were down $1.48 at $377.30, with Select $2.58 lower to $351.00. USDA estimated the Wednesday Federally inspected cattle slaughter at 100,000 head, with the weekly total at 307,000 head. That is now down 3,000 head from the previous week.

Oct 26 Live Cattle  are at $214.825, up $4.650,

Dec 26 Live Cattle  are at $216.750, up $4.725,

Feb 27 Live Cattle  are at $218.525, up $4.525,

Sep 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $326.250, up $7.275

Oct 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $321.975, up $7.600

Nov 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $316.250, up $7.900

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.