Today’s Livestock Market Update

The cattle complex was thankfully met with tremendous demand again on Friday, which helped the contracts rally substantially through the week’s end.

LIVE CATTLE:

The live cattle complex ended the week on a strong note as traders were pleased to continue to see widespread technical support and interest, which ultimately led to the market’s higher close. It wasn’t because of better market fundamentals that the complex closed higher, as cash prices were weaker this week and boxed beef prices traded mostly lower, but because traders took note of the positive message Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had to share earlier this week, the market closed higher. December live cattle closed $4.55 higher at $215.57, February live cattle closed $4.92 higher at $217.85 and April live cattle closed $5.30 higher at $219.55. There was a tick more cash cattle trade noted in the South at $220, which is $5.00 higher than the prices seen earlier this week but still $2.00 to $4.00 lower than last week’s weighted average. Earlier in the week, Northern dressed cattle were trading at mostly $330, which is $13.00 lower than last week’s weighted average.

Friday’s slaughter is estimated at 112,000 head, 7,000 head more than a week ago and 1,000 head less than a year ago. Saturday’s slaughter is projected to be around 19,000 head. The week’s total slaughter is estimated at 501,000 head, incomparable to last week but 31,000 head less than a year ago.

Boxed beef prices closed lower: choice down $1.46 ($366.82) and select down $4.46 ($351.05) with a movement of 82 loads (63.08 loads of choice, 5.50 loads of select, 7.35 loads of trim and 5.83 loads of ground beef).

MONDAY’S CATTLE CALL:

Steady. It’s tough to call next week’s trend before knowing exactly how many cattle traded this week.

FEEDER CATTLE:

The feeder cattle complex was also met with tremendous demand throughout the day as the market successfully closed anywhere from $8.00 to $9.00 higher Friday afternoon. It seemed to be the positive remarks made earlier in the week by Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins that helped change the market’s morale. January feeders closed $8.85 higher at $323.97, March feeders closed $8.80 higher at $317.85 and April feeders closed $8.92 higher at $316.62. The CME feeder cattle index 11/27/2025: down $3.20, $318.76.