Live cattle futures were 20–50¢ lower across front months Tuesday amid quiet cash trade and 15 deliveries tendered on First Notice Day (oldest Sept. 27); Dec/Feb/Apr live cattle quoted around $227.13 with mixed intramonth moves. Feeder cattle markets were mixed (nearby steady to 30¢ lower) as the CME Feeder Cattle Index fell 67¢ to $343.06 on Dec. 5, while the Oklahoma City auction sold 7,419 head with cattle over 800 lbs $6–10 higher and lighter calves under 800 lbs $15–30 higher. USDA boxed-beef prices climbed (Choice $362.97, Select $349.92; Choice/Select spread $13.05) and federally inspected slaughter was estimated at 115,000 head—unchanged week/week but about 3,776 head below last year—suggesting firmer wholesale demand against steady supplies and leaving near-term price direction contingent on upcoming cash trade and slaughter trends.
Live cattle futures weakened Tuesday, trading 20–50¢ lower across front months while 15 deliveries were tendered on First Notice Day Monday (oldest delivery Sept. 27); cash trade has been quiet this week after last week’s reported cash ranges of $220–225 in the north and $225–226.50 in the south. Quoted futures levels showed Dec 25 Live Cattle at $227.125 (down $0.20), Feb 26 Live Cattle at $227.125 (up $0.45) and Apr 26 Live Cattle at $227.175 (up $0.475), indicating intra-month volatility without a clear directional break. Feeder cattle were mixed with nearby contracts steady to 30¢ lower and the CME Feeder Cattle Index down $0.67 to $343.06 on Dec. 5; the Monday OKC feeder auction sold 7,419 head with cattle over 800 lbs trading $6–10 higher and lighter calves under 800 lbs trading $15–30 higher. Reported feeder futures include Jan 26 Feeder Cattle at $335.350 (down $0.30) and Apr 26 Feeder Cattle at $330.100 (up $0.375), reflecting divergent pressure across weights and delivery months. Wholesale signals show demand strength: USDA Choice boxed beef rose $2.07 to $362.97 and Select increased $1.32 to $349.92, widening the Choice/Select spread to $13.05, while federally inspected slaughter was estimated at 115,000 head—unchanged week/week but 3,776 head below year-ago—supporting near-term upside risk to cutout-driven values. The combination of firm boxed-beef prices and relatively steady/declining slaughter suggests conditional support for cattle prices, but near-term price direction hinges on forthcoming cash trade prints and weekly slaughter trends.
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