Live cattle futures are leading the way with losses of $4 to $4.60 so far on Thursday. There were no deliveries issued against August futures on Wednesday. Cash trade has been picked up with some $228-230 sales in the North. The Wednesday Fed Cattle Exchange auction showed no sales on the 1,308 head offered, with a bids of $228. Feeder cattle futures are trading with $2.70 to $3.75 losses across most contracts on Thursday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up $1.15 on August 11 to $355.37.
Export Sales data from USDA showed beef sales for 2026 at 14,426 MT for the week ending on 8/6. That was a 3-week low. Shipments were tallied at 11,420 MT, which was a 4-week low.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Thursday morning report. Choice boxes were up $4.21 at $376.49, with Select up $1.34 to $351.15. The Chc/Sel spread widened to $25.34. USDA’s Federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday was estimated at 106,000 head, with the weekly total at 310,000 head. That is up 4,000 head from the previous week but 25,148 head below the same week last year.
Aug 26 Live Cattle are at $226.000, down $4.575,
Oct 26 Live Cattle are at $219.600, down $4.200,
Dec 26 Live Cattle are at $218.800, down $4.000,
Aug 26 Feeder Cattle are at $342.625, down $3.725
Sep 26 Feeder Cattle are at $336.075, down $3.275
Oct 26 Feeder Cattle are at $327.700, down $2.700
