Cattle Fading Off Early Thursday Gains for Midday Losses

Live cattle futures are posting $1.40 to $2.50 losses on the day. Cash trade was reported at $350-355 dressed in the North this week with a few $224 live bids in the South. The Thursday Fed Cattle exchange online auction showed no sales on the 1,514 head offered with $222-223 bids. Feeder cattle futures are down $3.12 to $4.37 at midday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up $1.16 on September 15 to $342.74. 

Export Sales data from USDA showed beef sales for 2026 at 14,155 MT for the week ending on 9/10. That was an 5-week high. Shipments were tallied at 9,881 MT, the lowest total in a year.

USDA will release their monthly cattle on feed report on Friday, with August Placements seen 3.3% lower and marketings down 4%. September 1 cattle on feed inventory is estimated to be up 1.7% from a year ago.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday morning afternoon report, with the Chc/Sel at $19.86. Choice boxes were down $3.68 at $375.81, with Select $2.30 lower to $352.27. USDA estimated Federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday at 102,000 head, taking the weekly total to 313,000. That is well above the previous week due to the holiday but 37,998 head below the same week last year. 

Oct 26 Live Cattle  are at $217.050, down $1.400,

Dec 26 Live Cattle  are at $217.725, down $2.475,

Feb 27 Live Cattle  are at $218.500, down $2.400,

Sep 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $335.350, down $3.125

Oct 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $325.275, down $4.375

Nov 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $319.925, down $3.175

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.