Today’s Livestock Market Update

It ended up being a mixed day for the livestock complex as the cattle contracts closed lower but the lean hog market kept its upward momentum through the day’s end. Southern live cattle traded at $240, which is $4.00 lower than last week’s weighted average, and Northern dressed cattle traded at $380, which is $3.00 lower than last week’s weighted average.

LIVE CATTLE:

Simply put, it was a disappointing day for the live cattle complex. The board closed lower and the fed cash cattle market traded $3.00 to $4.00 weaker. So the bullish energy that’s been alive and well through most of 2026 was hard to find at Friday’s close. April live cattle closed $3.95 lower at $234.57, June live cattle closed $3.80 lower at $231.47 and August live cattle closed $4.15 lower at $229.25. Throughout the day Northern dressed cattle traded at $380, which is $3.00 lower than last week’s weighted average, and Southern live cattle traded at $240, which is $4.00 lower than last week’s weighted average. More than anything, the technical pushback the market saw as traders tried to face off against the 40-day moving average was simply too much for traders to bear at this time and consequently had an negative effect on the cash sector as well. Friday’s slaughter is estimated at 88,000 head — 1,000 head less than a week ago and 20,000 head less than a year ago. Saturday’s slaughter is projected to be around zero head. The week’s total slaughter is estimated at 521,000 head — 2,000 head more than a week ago and 58,000 head less than a year ago.

Boxed beef prices closed mixed: choice up $0.33 ($387.22) and select down $1.66 ($378.95) with a movement of 65 loads (43.86 loads of choice, 5.48 loads of select, 6.57 loads of trim and 9.41 loads of ground beef).

MONDAY’S CATTLE CALL:

Lower. With packers able to secure inventory at cheaper prices two weeks in a row, there’s a chance next week’s trade could be lower too.

FEEDER CATTLE:

Unfortunately, the notably lower close in the live cattle complex had a grave effect on the feeder cattle market as most of its contracts closed $7.00 lower Friday afternoon. But with the bulk of the market’s support evaporated, traders felt desperate throughout Friday and merely elected to wash their hands of the market before the closing bell. March feeders closed $6.97 lower at $355.62, April feeders closed $7.37 lower at $351.62 and May feeders closed $7.45 lower at $348.07. The Oklahoma Weekly Cattle Auction Summary shared that throughout the state and when compared to last week, steers and heifers traded $2.00 to $8.00 lower but steer and heifer calves sold $10.00 to $20.00 lower. Feeder cattle supply over 600 pounds was 72%. The CME Feeder Cattle Index 3/5/2026: down $1.27, $367.32.