Market Overview

On Thursday, live cattle futures moved lower, with each contract decreasing by roughly $2.95 to $4.55. Cash transactions were active, centering around $235 per live head and $370 for dressed cattle in the northern regions. The Fed Cattle Exchange’s online auction recorded no successful bids on the 734 head offered, with the highest offers ranging between $233 and $234 per live animal.

Live and Feeder Cattle Futures

Feeder cattle futures also experienced declines, slipping between $5.12 and $7.57 across the board. The CME Feeder Cattle Index, however, posted a modest gain of $4.28 on August 5, closing at $352.93.

USDA Export and Slaughter Data

USDA export figures for the week ending July 30 indicated beef shipments of 19,845 metric tonnes, marking a six‑week high. South Korea accounted for 9,300 MT of the sales, while Japan purchased 6,600 MT. Total shipments rose to 12,461 MT, up from the previous week. The leading destination remained South Korea with 3,800 MT, followed by Japan at 2,800 MT.

USDA estimates for federally inspected cattle slaughter on Thursday stood at 107,000 head, bringing the week‑to‑date total to 413,000 head. This weekly figure is up by 6,000 head from the prior week but remains 36,284 head below the comparable period last year.

Wholesale Boxed Beef Prices

In the wholesale boxed‑beef market, choice‑grade boxes fell $4.11 to $363.86, while select‑grade boxes rose $1.72 to $349.78. The price spread between choice and select narrowed to $14.08.

Historical Price Context

Recent settlement prices for live cattle futures were:

  • August 26: $231.225, down $2.95
  • October 26: $224.925, down $4.55
  • December 26: $224.375, down $4.30

For feeder cattle futures, the closing levels were:

  • August 26: $348.050, down $5.28
  • September 26: $341.575, down $6.80
  • October 26: $331.950, down $7.48

Disclaimer

The author, Austin Schroeder, held no direct or indirect positions in any of the securities discussed. All information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

For further details, consult the Barchart Disclosure Policy.