Cattle Fade Lower on Thursday

Live cattle futures were down 22 cents to $1.20 across most contracts on Thursday, with October up 27 cents. Cash trade has yet to get kicked off this week, with $340-345 bids reported in the north. The Thursday morning Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed no sales or bids on the 2,612 head offered. Feeder cattle futures faded lower, with contracts closing 12 cents to $3.25. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was $1.14 lower on October 7 to $336.73.

USDA Export Sales data showed 12,996 MT of beef sold in the week ending on 10/1 for 2026. Shipments were 11,880 MT in that week a 3-week low.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday afternoon report, with the Chc/Sel at $23.12. Choice boxes were down 77 cents to $374.85, with Select $2.48 lower to $351.73. USDA estimated Federally inspected cattle slaughter for Thursday at 101,000 head, taking the weekly total at 424,000 head. That was up 14,000 from the week prior but 25,661 head below the same week last year.

Oct 26 Live Cattle  closed at $221.875, up $0.275,

Dec 26 Live Cattle  closed at $223.550, down $0.225,

Feb 27 Live Cattle  closed at $225.850, down $0.700,

Oct 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $338.025, down $0.125,

Nov 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $334.875, down $0.925,

Jan 27 Feeder Cattle  closed at $328.425, down $1.975,