Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 12, 2026

Cattle futures rallied on Friday as Corn futures tanked on USDA’s latest production estimates (see below).

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.73 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $7.09 higher.

Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $10.29 higher and Live Cattle futures closed an average of $5.01 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light on moderate demand in the North through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were steady to $2 higher in Nebraska at mostly $222/cwt. and steady to $2 lower in the western Corn belt at $218-$220. Dressed delivered prices were steady in Nebraska at $345 and steady to $5 lower in the western Corn Belt at mostly $345. The Texas Cattle Feeders Association reported its members trading fed cattle steady at $226.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.50 lower Friday afternoon at $373.35/cwt. Select was $2.57 higher at $354.30. Week to week on Friday, Choice was 84¢ lower and Select was 19¢ lower.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 531,000 head was 17,000 head fewer than the previous week and 20,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 21.1 million head was 1.7 million head fewer (-7.4%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 18.8 billion pounds was 1 billion pounds less (-5.2%).

Corn futures led the grain complex lower Friday, weighed down by the surprising projected production increase in the latest WASDE.

Corn futures closed mostly 19¢ to 21¢ lower through near Jly and then mostly 4¢ to 8¢ lower. 

Kansas City HRW Wheat futures closed 10¢ to 17¢ lower through away Dec.

Soybean futures closed mostly 4¢ to 5¢ higher.