On Thursday, live cattle futures dropped by 97 cents to $1.90, with cash trade starting at $228 and dressed sales between $356-358. The Fed Cattle Exchange auction saw no sales for the 1,708 head listed, with bids at $225-226.50 live and $350.50 dressed. Feeder cattle futures fell by $1.25 to $1.90. The CME feeder cattle index rose 26 cents from the previous day to $350.05.
Weekly export data revealed only 1,908 MT of beef sold for 2025 delivery and 12,087 MT for 2026, with export shipments at a three-week low of 10,869 MT. The December Cattle on Feed report is expected to show an 8% drop in placements for November and a decline of 11.3% in marketings, with the total on feed anticipated to be 1.6% lower than last year.
USDA data indicated that boxed beef prices were mixed, with Choice boxes up $1.19 to $357.28 and Select down $2.46 to $343.97. Federally inspected cattle slaughter was estimated at 123,000 head on Thursday, resulting in a weekly total of 472,000 head, down 12,000 head from the previous week and 11,643 head lower than the same week last year.
