Cattle Bounce into Thursday’s Final Bell

Live cattle futures posted gains of $1.82 to $3.52 cents across the board on Thursday. Cash trade picked up to $220 Wednesday, firming $2 from Tuesday, with a few dressed sales of $345 in the north. The Thursday morning Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed dressed sales of $340-341 on 80 of the 2,002 head offered and other bids of $220. Feeder cattle futures were $3.10 to $3.97 higher on the session with August expiring up $1 at $333.75. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down another 80 cents on August 26 to $333.47. 

Export Sales data from USDA showed beef sales for 2026 at just 9,172 MT for the week ending on 8/20. That was a 6-week low. The lead buyer was Japan at 2,200 MT, with 2,100 MT sold to South Korea. Shipments were tallied at 11,806 MT, which was also a 6-week low. South Korea was the top destination of 3,700 MT, as 2,700 MT was headed to Japan. 

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday PM report, with the Chc/Sel narrowing slightly to $22.17. Choice boxes were down $1.77 at $381.36, with Select $2.49 lower to $359.19. USDA estimated Thursday’s Federally inspected cattle slaughter at 105,000 head, with the weekly total at 415,000 head. That is up 6,000 head from the previous week, but 50,423 head below the same week last year.

Aug 26 Live Cattle  closed at $220.300, up $1.825,

Oct 26 Live Cattle  closed at $212.925, up $2.150,

Dec 26 Live Cattle  closed at $214.800, up $2.225,

Aug 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $333.750, up $1.000,

Sep 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $322.450, up $3.450,

Oct 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $318.075, up $3.825,