Cattle futures eroded further Friday, as cash prices continued to decline.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 92¢ lower and Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.05 lower.
Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $8.35 lower. They were an average of $16.38 lower over the last two weeks. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $11.65 lower week to week on Friday and an average of $25.97 lower over the last two weeks.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand in the South Central region to light on light demand in the North through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Prices eroded as the week progressed.
Across the week, FOB live prices were $7 lower in the South Central region at $218/cwt., $7-$10 lower in Nebraska at mainly $214-$217 and $6-$14 lower in the western Corn Belt at $210-$218. Dressed delivered prices were $12-$22 lower in Nebraska at $330-$340 and $8-$25 lower in the western Corn Belt at mostly $340.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 77¢ lower Friday afternoon at $360.79/cwt. Select was $1.24 higher at $353.56. Week to week on Friday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $3.87 lower but Select was $1.58 higher.
Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 534,000 head was 9,000 head fewer than the previous week and 35,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 23.3 million head was 1.8 million head fewer (-7.1%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 20.8 billion pounds was 1.1 billion pounds less (-4.9%).
Short covering and position squaring ahead of next week’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates helped Corn and Soybeans futures firm and gain on Friday.
Corn futures were mostly fractionally higher to 1¢ higher. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 8¢ higher through Jly ’27 and then mostly 3¢ to 4¢ lower.
Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were 2¢ to 3¢ lower through Mar ’28 due in part to declining in war premium.
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