Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 7-8, 2026

Cattle futures closed mixed Friday on caution ahead of the three-day weekend.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of 99¢ lower, except for an average of 11¢ higher in the back three contracts.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 60¢ higher, except for an average of 85¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 64¢ higher, from 7¢ higher toward the back to $1.22 higher in spot Oct. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.84 higher week to week on Friday.

Negotiated cash fed cattle was limited on light demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were some FOB live sales at mostly $220/cwt.

Based on established trade last week, FOB live prices were steady to $4 lower in the North at $218/cwt. and dressed delivered prices were steady at $345. However, prices strengthened toward the end of the week, according to various reports and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association reported its members trading FOB live steers and heifers at $222.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 73¢ lower Friday afternoon at $376.17/cwt. Select was $5.15 higher at $355.87. Week to week on Friday, Choice was 6¢ lower and Select was $5.21 lower.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 526,000 head was 16,000 head fewer than the previous week but 32,000 head more than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 18.5 million head was 1.5 million head fewer (-7.5%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 16.5 billion pounds was 876.3 million pounds less (-5.1%).

Grain and Soybean futures were lower on Friday with likely profit taking and positioning ahead of the three-day weekend.

Corn futures were 2¢ to 4¢ lower through Dec ’27. Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were mostly 13¢ to 15¢ lower.  Soybean futures were mostly 6¢ to 12¢ lower.