Cattle Look to Close Out the Month on Friday

Live cattle futures were lower on Thursday, with contracts down a dime to $1.02. Open interest was up 557 contracts on Thursday. Cash trade has been quiet this week with a few sales reported by USDA at $223-226 live in the north and $350-365 dressed. The Thursday morning Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed 225 bids on several lots of the 2,636 head offered, with most reserve prices (asks) at $230-232. Feeder cattle futures were down 32 cents to 60 cents higher. Open interest was up 1,222 contracts, mainly in January, as October expired. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up another 43 cents on October 28 to $351.43.

USDA Export Sales data showed 10,996 MT of beef sold in the week ending on 10/22 for 2026, a 5-week low. Shipments were 12,899 MT in that week, a 16-week high.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday PM report, with the Chc/Sel at $15.65. Choice boxes were down $1.72 to $367.28, with Select $3.62 lower to $351.63 USDA estimated Federally inspected cattle slaughter for Thursday at 109,000 head, taking the week’s total to 434,000 head. That was up 4,000 head from the week prior and 22,927 head below the same week last year. 

Oct 26 Live Cattle  closed at $227.275, down $0.100,

Dec 26 Live Cattle  closed at $226.300, down $1.025,

Feb 27 Live Cattle  closed at $229.475, down $1.025,

Oct 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $351.100, down $0.325,

Nov 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $346.475, down $0.275,

Jan 27 Feeder Cattle  closed at $341.950, down $0.150,