Cattle Current Podcast—March 10, 2025

Cattle futures rebounded Friday, fueled by the higher cash fed cattle prices in the North.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.76 higher ($1.55 higher at the back to $4.00 higher at the front).

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.76 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $5.46 higher ($3.42 higher at the back to $7.70 higher toward the front). During the same period, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $5.85 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on very light demand in the Southern Plains through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Trade was active on good demand in Nebraska but light with moderate demand in the western Corn Belt.

For the week, FOB live prices were steady in the Southern Plains at $197/cwt., but $2-$4 higher in the North at $200-$202. Dressed delivered prices were $2-$4 higher in Nebraska at $315-$317. The dressed delivered price in the western Corn Belt was $313.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.78 higher Friday afternoon at $314.90/cwt. Select was $2.29 higher at $305.80. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $3.07 higher and Select was $3.75 higher.

Total estimated cattle slaughter last week of 578,000 head was 12,000 head more than the previous week but 6,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 5.5 million head was 410,000 head fewer (-6.9%) than the same period last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 4.8 billion pounds was 129.6 million less (-2.6%).

Turning to the grain complex, futures were mixed Friday.

Corn futures closed 4¢ to 5¢ higher through old-crop contracts and then mostly 2¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures closed mostly 3¢ to 4¢ lower. Soybean futures closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ higher, except for fractionally lower to 3¢ lower through the front three contracts.