**Live Cattle Futures Decline Ahead of Holiday Weekend**
Live cattle futures fell between $1.45 and $2 on Thursday, with cash sales pricing at $403 dressed in the northern regions and live trade at $255-256. The southern trade started at $255. Feeder cattle futures experienced a decline of $1.585 to $1.70 for nearby contracts. The CME Feeder Cattle Index dropped 41 cents to $376.99 on June 30. Trading activity is impacted by the July 4th Independence Day Holiday on Friday, leading to a 3-day weekend.
Export sales for beef in 2026 reached 126,062 metric tons for the week ending June 25, marking a calendar year high, while shipments totaled 128,967 metric tons. However, USDA reported wholesale boxed beef prices were lower, with choice boxes down $3.61 to $387.65 and select boxes down 49 cents to $369.20. The estimated cattle slaughter for Wednesday stood at 110,000 head, bringing the weekly total to 324,000, which is 34,718 head lower than the same week last year.
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