Cattle Futures Rise as Boxed Beef Prices Fall

Live cattle futures rose 12 cents to settle at $219.60 on Thursday. All active contract months posted gains in the session. The October 2026 contract closed at $217.825, up $1.975. The December 2026 contract finished at $219.600, adding $1.125. The February 2027 contract ended at $221.150, up $0.825.

Feeder cattle futures also advanced across the board. The September 2026 contract closed at $332.575, gaining $2.875. The October 2026 contract settled at $327.550, up $1.725. The November 2026 contract finished at $322.775, rising $1.425. The CME Feeder Cattle Index increased by $1.53 to reach $328.96.

Wholesale Beef Prices Declined

Wholesale boxed beef prices dropped in the afternoon report. The Choice to Select spread widened to $26.31. Choice boxes fell by $2.40 to $378.37. Select boxes decreased by 28 cents to $352.06. These figures indicate a softening trend in the meat market.

The Fed Cattle Exchange reported no sales on 952 head offered. Bids were set at $220 live. This lack of activity contrasts with the futures market gains. Traders appear to be waiting for clearer pricing signals.

Slaughter Volume Remains Low

USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter at 109,000 head on Thursday. The weekly total reached 329,000 head. This figure is significantly lower than the previous week. The decline is attributed to the Monday holiday. Processing plants operated on a shortened schedule.

Market Data Source Verification

GN markets/commodities (en-US) provides the underlying data for these figures. The source confirms the specific price movements in both live and feeder cattle contracts. The discrepancy between rising futures and falling spot prices is notable. Analysts monitor these divergences closely for supply chain insights.