[[ type === 'moc' ? 'MARKET ON CLOSE' : 'FREE WEBINAR' ]]
[[ timeLabel ]] WATCH LIVE:
Your browser of choice has not been tested for use with Barchart.com. If you have issues, please download one of the browsers listed here.
Stocks | Futures | Watchlist | News | More
or
Faster, Cleaner, Better.

Live Cattle Apr '26 (LEJ26)

[[ item.lastPrice ]] [[ item.priceChange ]] ([[ item.percentChange ]]) [[ item.tradeTime ]] [CME]
[[ item.bidPrice ]] x [[ item.bidSize ]] [[ item.askPrice ]] x [[ item.askSize ]]
[[ rootItem.symbol ]]underlying price [[ rootItem.lastPrice ]] [[ rootItem.priceChange ]] ([[ rootItem.percentChange ]]) [[ rootItem.tradeTime ]]
Quote Overview for [[ item.sessionDateDisplayLong ]]
[[ rowChartData.labelLow ]]
[[ rowChartData.lowPriceFormatted ]]
[[ rowChartData.lowPrice ]]
[[ rowChartData.labelHigh ]]
[[ rowChartData.highPriceFormatted ]]
[[ rowChartData.highPrice ]]
since [[ rowChartData.lowDate ]]
since [[ rowChartData.highDate ]]
[[ value ]] [[ value ]] ([[ financialData.relativeStrengthDirection14d ]]) ([[ financialData.highPercent1y ]]) ([[ financialData.lowPercent1y ]])

Live Cattle Futures Market News and Commentary

Cattle Continues Slide into the Weekend on Weaker Cash and Beef

Live cattle futures posted losses of 97 cents to $2.67 across most contracts on Friday. August was down $10.77 this week. Cash trade settled in at $238-240 in the north this week, with Southern trade at $237-238. Feeder cattle futures were down 65 cents to $2.20 on Friday, with August dropping back $8.65. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down another $1.49 on July 16 to $364.03. 

The Friday Commitment of Traders report showed managed money cutting back another 16,997 contracts from their net long in live cattle futures and options to 96,324 contracts as of Tuesday. In feeder cattle futures and options spec funds were busy slashing another 3,810 contracts from the net long as of July 14 to 9,880 contracts.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were quoted lower in the Friday PM report. Choice boxes were $1.57 lower at $366.81, with Select down 40 cents to $355.29. USDA’s Federally inspected cattle slaughter for the week totaled 525,000 head through Saturday. That is down 4,000 head... Read more

Contract Specifications

See More
Contract
Live Cattle
Contract Size
40,000 pounds
Tick Size
0.00025 per pound ($10.00 per contract)
Trading Hours
8:30a.m. - 1:05p.m. (Settles 1:00p.m.) CST
Exchange
CME
Point Value
$400
Margin/Maintenance
$3,520/3,200
First Notice Date
04/06/26
Expiration Date
04/30/26 (expired)

Seasonal Chart

Live Cattle Apr '26
Average Price Chart for 5 Prior Apr Contracts

Commitment of Traders Positions as of Jul 14, 2026

View Chart Details
Commercials - Long / Short
104,345 (+8,106)
165,669 (-1,463)
Non-Commercials - Long / Short
122,352 (-16,310)
52,647 (-4,347)
Producers - Long / Short
36,080 (+7,654)
157,341 (-490)
Swap Dealers - Long / Short
66,211 (+644)
6,274 (-781)
Managed Money - Long / Short
109,102 (-15,752)
10,967 (+1,021)
Other Reportables - Long / Short
13,250 (-558)
41,680 (-5,368)
Get Realtime - Quotes and Charts for Futures Traders. Learn More >>

Price Performance

See More
Period Period Low Period High Performance
1-Month
239.350 +7.99%
on 03/31/26
258.725 -0.10%
on 04/30/26
+18.925 (+7.90%)
since 03/30/26
3-Month
227.325 +13.70%
on 03/09/26
258.725 -0.10%
on 04/30/26
+21.675 (+9.15%)
since 01/30/26
52-Week
202.025 +27.94%
on 05/01/25
258.725 -0.10%
on 04/30/26
+55.025 (+27.05%)
since 04/30/25

More Live Cattle Quotes

All Futures Prices
Please wait...

Most Recent Stories

More News
The Wheat Rally Could Just be Getting Started

Weekend Black Sea & Hormuz activity could stimulate further rally

Building Better Commodity Spreads - Part 1: Why Direction Isn't Enough

Choosing the right direction is an important first step, but it rarely tells the entire story. Learn why factors such as timing, contract selection, and trade structure can dramatically influence the historical...

Cattle Markets Continue Break Down - Make New Lows

Cattle markets sink to new lows, taking cash prices with t

Cattle Continues Slide into the Weekend on Weaker Cash and Beef

Live cattle futures posted losses of 97 cents to $2.67 across most contracts on Friday. August was down $10.77 this week. Cash trade settled in at $238-240 in the north this week, with Southern trade at...

LEZ26 : 220.525s (-1.20%)
LEV26 : 220.700s (-1.15%)
LEQ26 : 224.425s (-1.17%)
GFU26 : 339.350s (-0.29%)
GFQ26 : 345.950s (-0.19%)
GFV26 : 332.825s (-0.49%)
HogsHogs Close with Gains on Friday

Lean hog futures posted mostly higher trad on Friday, with contracts up 25 cents to $1.37 at the close. August was up $2.65 this week. USDA’s national base hog price was reported at $99.32 Friday afternoon,...

HEV26 : 87.950s (+1.18%)
HEQ26 : 101.650s (+1.37%)
HEZ26 : 78.775s (+1.06%)
Shootin' the Bull about more imported and domestic beef supplies

In my opinion, increasing imported beef is undercutting US beef production from US cattle.

The DeCarley Perspective...All Markets Should Pay Attention to Kevin Warsh, but Particularly Stocks, Copper, and Ags.

Less liquidity means smaller rallies

Cattle Extending Weakness to Friday

Live cattle futures are trading with $1.77 to $2.17 losses across most contracts on Friday. Cash trade started to pick up, with a few light northern sales of $378-380 dressed and live action reported at...

LEZ26 : 220.525s (-1.20%)
LEV26 : 220.700s (-1.15%)
LEQ26 : 224.425s (-1.17%)
GFU26 : 339.350s (-0.29%)
GFQ26 : 345.950s (-0.19%)
GFV26 : 332.825s (-0.49%)
Hogs Gains Pushing to Friday

Lean hog futures are trading with 50 cent to $1.02 gains across most contracts at midday. USDA’s national base hog price was reported at $96.68 Friday morning, down $3.49 from the day prior. The CME...

HEV26 : 87.950s (+1.18%)
HEQ26 : 101.650s (+1.37%)
HEZ26 : 78.775s (+1.06%)
Cattle Look to Round Out a Week of Weakness on Friday

Live cattle futures rounded out the Thursday session with contracts down $2.35 to $3.05. Open interest was up 387 contracts. Cash trade started to pick up, with a few light northern sales of $378-380 dressed...

LEZ26 : 220.525s (-1.20%)
LEV26 : 220.700s (-1.15%)
LEQ26 : 224.425s (-1.17%)
GFU26 : 339.350s (-0.29%)
GFQ26 : 345.950s (-0.19%)
GFV26 : 332.825s (-0.49%)

Barchart Trading Guide

The Barchart Trading Guide is a Sell Signal with a Weak Signal Strength.

Relative Strength is above 70%. The market is in overbought territory. Watch for a potential trend reversal.

Key Turning Points

3rd Resistance Point 261.058
2nd Resistance Point 259.892
1st Resistance Point 259.183
Last Price 258.475s
1st Support Level 257.308
2nd Support Level 256.142
3rd Support Level 255.433

See More

52-Week High 258.725
Last Price 258.475s
Fibonacci 61.8% 237.066
Fibonacci 50% 230.375
Fibonacci 38.2% 223.684
52-Week Low 202.025

See More

Solutions for Ag Professionals barchart.com/cmdty
Data and Statistics for Meats
Explore Data
cmdtyView Pro for Livestock Professionals
Start Free Trial
We help Ag Professionals make better decisions
Learn Now
Want to use this as
your default charts setting?
Save this setup as a Chart Templates
Switch the Market flag
for targeted data from your country of choice.
Open the menu and switch the
Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice.
Want Streaming Chart Updates?
Switch your Site Preferences
to use Interactive Charts
Need More Chart Options?
Right-click on the chart to open the Interactive Chart menu.
Use your up/down arrows to move through the symbols.