Cattle Look to Round Out the Week Following Weakness

Live cattle futures were $2.40 to $3.60 lower across the board. Losses in the stock market added pressure. Open interest suggested new selling, up 4,166 contracts on Thursday. Cash trade has been active at $218 in the South, and $214-216 in the North. The Thursday Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed sales of $215 on 582 of the 3,018 head offered. Feeder cattle futures fell $2.92 to $6.97 at the close. OI was up just 590 contracts. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back down $3.88 on November 4 to $342.76. 

USDA Export Sales data showed 10,993 MT of beef sold in the week ending on 10/29 for 2026, a tick below last week. Shipments were 13,441 MT in that week, a 17-week high.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday PM report, with the Chc/Sel at $9.24. Choice boxes were down 94 cents to $361.56, with Select $4.33 lower to $352.32. USDA estimated Federally inspected cattle slaughter for Thursday at 110,000 head, taking the weekly total to 430,000. That was down 4,000 head from the week prior and 33,573 head below the same week last year. 

Dec 26 Live Cattle  closed at $214.400, down $3.600,

Feb 27 Live Cattle  closed at $217.625, down $3.200,

Apr 27 Live Cattle  closed at $220.425, down $2.775,

Nov 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $325.050, down $6.975,

Jan 27 Feeder Cattle  closed at $320.325, down $5.400,

Mar 27 Feeder Cattle  closed at $315.925, down $4.925,