Cattle Current Podcast—May 18, 2026

Cattle futures retrenched and gained Friday, boosted by the week’s higher negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Heading into the new week, there could be support from Friday’s late-day news that China appears to have opened the door to renewed beef imports from the U.S. (see below).

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.64 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.69 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.00 higher (25¢ higher to $5 higher in spot June), except for an average of 21¢ lower in the back two contracts.

During the same period, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.14 lower ($2.77 lower near the front to $7 lower at the back), except for $1.30 higher in spot May.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on moderate demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt to inactive on light to moderate demand in the Southern Plains through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Based on the latest established trade, FOB live prices were $4 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $260/cwt., $5-$9 higher in Kansas at $265 and mainly $5 higher in the North at mostly $265. Dressed delivered prices were $13 higher in Nebraska at $415 and mostly $5-$10 higher in the western Corn Belt at mostly $410.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.80 higher Friday afternoon at $389.25/cwt. Select was 25¢ higher at $389.25. Week to week on Friday, Choice was 86¢ higher and Select was $4.24 higher.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 535,000 head was 8,000 head more than the previous week but 31,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 10.2 million head was 1 million head fewer (-9.3%) than the same time a year ago. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 9.2 billion pounds was 657 million pounds less (-6.7%).

Grain and Soybean futures stepped lower Friday with follow-through selling prompted by the lack of new trade commitments from China.

Kansas City HRW Wheat futures closed 12¢ to 19¢ lower. Soybean futures closed 10¢ to 15¢ lower through May ‘27. Corn futures closed mostly 7¢ to 11¢ lower; they were an average of 13’6¢ lower through the front six contracts, week to week on Friday.