Cattle futures firmed Friday and gained back some of the steep losses from the previous two sessions, helped along by a bounce in wholesale beef values.

Live Cattle futures were an average of 91¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.01 higher (62¢ to $1.77 higher).

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.61 lower and Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.73 lower ($1.12 lower at the front to $3.47 lower at the back).

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on good demand in the Southern Plains to light on good demand elsewhere through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $1-$2 higher in the Texas Panhandle at mostly $220/cwt., steady to $2 higher in Kansas at $220 and $1-$3 higher in the North at $228-$229. Dressed delivered prices were $3 higher at $358.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.59 higher Friday afternoon at $352.49/cwt. Select was $3.21 higher at $342.39. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $6.52 higher and Select was $11.22 higher.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 566,000 head was 7,000 head more than the previous week but 31,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 11.3 million head was 733,000 head fewer (-6.1%) than the same period last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 9.8 billion pounds was 262.7 million pounds less (-2.6%).

Grain and Soybean futures were lower Friday.

Corn futures were mostly 2¢ to 3¢ lower, pressured by planting progress and Wheat futures, with Kansas City Wheat futures closing 7¢ to 11¢ lower. Soybean futures were fractionally higher to mostly 1¢ lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle prices gained on Thursday with moderate trade and good demand in the Texas Panhandle, Nebraska and the western Corn Belt, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

FOB live prices were $1-$2 higher in the Texas Panhandle at mostly $220/cwt., $1-$4 higher in Nebraska at $229 and $1-$2 higher in the westerner Corn Belt at $227-$229. Dressed delivered prices were $3 higher at $358.

Trade in Kansas was limited on good demand with too few transactions to trend. FOB live prices there last week were $218-$220.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 54¢ higher Thursday afternoon at $349.90/cwt. Select was $3.33 higher at $339.18.

However, Cattle futures were sharply lower again Thursday with follow-through pressure from the previous session’s selloff. Growing concern about the potential of New World screwworm reaching the United States hovers in the background.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $4.06 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $6.03 lower.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Thursday.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were 2¢ lower to 2¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 4¢ to 5¢ higher. Soybean futures were 21¢ to 34¢ lower, perhaps with some sympathy to lower Crude Oil futures.

Cattle futures hit new highs Wednesday and then reversed to close sharply lower with likely profit taking and skittishness over the overbought status and price levels.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.38 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.98 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on moderate demand in the Southern Plains to limited on moderate demand in the North through Wednesday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $218-$219/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $218-$220 in Kansas and $225-$228 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $355.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 74¢ lower Wednesday afternoon at $349.36/cwt. Select was $1.38 higher at $335.85.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed again Wednesday.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were 1¢ lower to 2¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 9¢ to 11¢ higher. Soybean futures were mostly fractionally higher to 3¢ higher, except for 9¢ lower in spot May.  

Cattle futures eased lower Tuesday with likely profit taking from the previous session’s strong gains.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 73¢ higher (35¢ to $1.17 higher), except for an average of 32¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 41¢ higher, except for an average of 31¢ lower in the front three contracts.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Tuesday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $218-$219/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $218-$220 in Kansas and $225-$228 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $355.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.96 higher Tuesday afternoon at $350.10/cwt. Select was 76¢ lower at $334.47.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Tuesday.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were 3¢ to 5¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 3¢ to 4¢ higher. Soybean futures were mostly 3¢ to 5¢ higher.  

Cattle futures popped higher Monday, helped along by more bullish outside markets and news that the U.S. shuttered the Southern border to cattle, bison and horses once again May 11 due to the spread of New World screwworm.

“The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade. This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.”

Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University explains the border closed initially last November and reopened in early February after additional protocols and inspections were implemented. 

“Thus far in 2025, a total of 197,844 head of feeder cattle have been imported since the border reopened, down 60% year over year for the year-to-date,” Peel says, in his weekly market comments. “In 2024, a total of 1.25 million head of feeder cattle were imported, with none in the last five weeks of the year.”

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.82 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.55 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $1 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $219/cwt., steady to $2 higher in Kansas at $218-$220, $3-$5 higher in Nebraska at $225-$228 and $4-$5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $225-$228. Dressed delivered prices were $5 higher at $355.

Last week’s weighted average five-area direct FOB live fed steer price was $4.09 higher at $224.80. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $6.69 higher at $356.06.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.17 higher Monday afternoon at $348.14/cwt. Select was $4.06 higher at $335.23.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Monday.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were 2¢ lower to 3¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 7¢ to 8¢ lower. Soybean futures were 18¢ to 26¢ higher, helped by the Chinese trade talks.  

Cattle futures gained early in Friday’s session and then closed lower with likely profit taking.

Live Cattle futures were an average of 63¢ lower, except for 42¢ higher in spot Jun.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.45 lower, except for 50¢ higher in spot May.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.19 higher (82¢ higher at the back to $3.57 higher at the front). Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 3.52 higher week to week on Friday ($3.02 higher at the front to $4.05 higher at the back).

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on good demand in the Southern Plains and light to good demand in in the North through Friday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were steady to $1 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $218-$219/cwt., steady to $2 higher in Kansas at $218-$220, $3-$5 higher in Nebraska at $225-$228 and $4-$5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $225-$228. Dressed delivered prices were $5 higher at $355.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.92 lower Friday afternoon at $345.97/cwt. Select was $2.03 lower at $331.17. However, week to week on Friday, Choice was $3.07 higher and Select was $5.82 higher.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Friday.

Corn futures were mostly 2¢ to 3¢ higher with likely short covering ahead of Monday’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. However, Corn futures were an average of 12’2¢ lower through the front six contracts, pressured by planting progress.  

Kansas City Wheat futures were 5¢ to 7¢ lower, pressured by crop progress.

Soybean futures were mostly 2¢ to 7¢ higher, helped along by announced early trade negotiations between China and the U.S. over the weekend.

Cattle futures gained Thursday with higher cash fed cattle prices and stronger Choice wholesale beef values.  

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.22 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.83 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light to moderate on very good demand in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were $3-$5 higher at $225-$228/cwt. Dressed delivered prices were mainly $5 higher in Nebraska at mostly $355. There were some early dressed delivered trades in the western Corn Belt at $355-$360, but too few to trend; prices were $350 last week.

Trade in the Southern Plains was limited on good demand with too few transactions to trend. So far this week, FOB live prices are steady to $1 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $218-$219 and steady to $2 higher in Kansas at $218-$220.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.74 higher Thursday afternoon at $347.90/cwt. Select was 80¢ lower at $333.20.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Thursday with planting progress once again pressuring grains, while the same fast pace and notions of less crop swapping favored Soybeans.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were fractionally lower to 2¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly 4¢ to 5¢ lower. Soybean futures were mostly 2¢ to 5¢ higher.

Cattle futures were lower Wednesday but pared losses as the session wore on, as traders took a breather from recent contract highs.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 64¢ lower, except for 5¢ higher in away Jun. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 69¢ lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on good demand in the Texas Panhandle through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live trades were $1 higher than the previous day at $219/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade was light on good demand. Although too few to trend, there were some FOB live trades in Kansas at $219, compared to Tuesday’s trade of $218-$220. There were also some early dressed delivered trades in Nebraska at $352-$355.

Last week, FOB live prices were $222-$223 in Nebraska and $220-$224 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $350.00/cwt., except for a few up to $352 in Nebraska.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.48 higher Wednesday afternoon at $346.15/cwt. Select was $1.03 higher at $334.00.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed again Wednesday with planting progress and the positive weather outlook providing pressure.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were fractionally lower to 6¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 7¢ to 8¢ lower. Soybean futures were 4¢ lower to 2¢ higher.

Lower outside markets helped keep Cattle futures in check Tuesday.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were unchanged to an average of 21¢ higher, except for 7¢ lower in spot Jun. Feeder Cattle futures were unchanged to an average of 22¢ higher, except for 52¢ lower in spot May.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on good demand in the Texas Panhandle through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live trades were mainly steady at $218/cwt., but a few up to $219.

Trade in Kansas was light on good demand. FOB trades so far this week are steady to $2 higher at $218-$220.

Elsewhere, trade was mostly inactive on light demand.

Last week, FOB live prices were $222-$223 in Nebraska and $220-$224 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $350.00/cwt., except for a few up to $352 in Nebraska.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.10 higher Tuesday afternoon at $344.67/cwt. Select was $4.90 higher at $332.97.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Tuesday.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were 1¢ higher to 2¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 2¢ to 4¢ higher. Soybean futures were 3¢ to 5¢ lower.

Cattle futures extended gains Monday with follow-through support from last week’s stronger cash fed cattle prices.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.43 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.05 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Monday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $6 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $218/cwt., $5-$8 higher in Kansas at $218, $4-$5 higher in Nebraska at $222-$223 and $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $222-$223.

Dressed delivered prices were $7-$10 higher in Nebraska at $350 with a few up to $352, and $8-$10 higher in the western Corn Belt at $350.

Last week’s weighted average five-area direct FOB live fed steer price was $4.65 higher at $220.97/cwt. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $7.95 higher at $349.37.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 67¢ higher Monday afternoon at $343.57/cwt. Select was $2.72 higher at $328.07.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower Monday with pressure from planting progress and favorable domestic weather.

Toward the close and through Mar ‘26 contracts, Corn futures were 13¢ to 14¢ lower in the front two contracts and then 7¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly 8¢ to 9¢ lower. Soybean futures were 7¢ to 12¢ lower.