Cattle futures were higher Thursday, supported by stronger outside markets and the prospects for steady to higher cash fed cattle prices this week.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 51¢ higher, except for 2¢ lower in near Jun. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 65¢ higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from light on moderate demand in Kansas to mostly inactive on very light demand elsewhere through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. There were too few transactions to trend in any region.

Last week, FOB live prices were $208-$210/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $210 in Kansas, $212-$214 in Nebraska and $212 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $332-$340 in Nebraska and $335 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.73 higher Thursday afternoon at $333.70/cwt. Select was $1.83 higher at $316.35.

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Thursday.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were unchanged to 4¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were fractionally higher to 1¢ higher. Soybean futures were 10¢ to 14¢ higher

Cattle futures were higher Wednesday, helped along by firmer outside markets.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 89¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 73¢ higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand in Kansas to a standstill elsewhere through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $208-$210/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $210 in Kansas, $212-$214 in Nebraska and $212 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $332-$340 in Nebraska and $335 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 24¢ higher Wednesday afternoon at $331.97/cwt. Select was $3.13 lower at $314.52.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Wednesday. Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 3¢ to 4¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 7¢ to 8¢ lower. Soybean futures were 2¢ to 6¢ higher.

Cattle futures rebounded Tuesday, following outside markets higher just they followed them lower the previous day.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.94 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.50 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $208-$210/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $210 in Kansas, $212-$214 in Nebraska and $212 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $332-$340 in and $335 in the western Corn Belt.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.79 lower Tuesday afternoon at $331.73/cwt. Select was $1.12 lower at $317.65.

Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Tuesday.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 6¢ to 7¢ lower, pressured by the fast planting clip with 12% in the ground April 20, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress report.

Kansas City Wheat futures were 4¢ to 6¢ lower.

Cattle futures closed lower Monday, pressured by the sinking equities and perhaps added pressure from last week’s Cattle on Feed report which indicated more placements than expected last month.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 34¢ lower, except for 20¢ higher in the back contract. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.78 lower.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand to a standstill through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were $4-$6 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $208-$210/cwt., $6 higher in Kansas at $210, $4-$6 higher in Nebraska at $212-$214 and $4 higher in the western Corn Belt at $212. Dressed delivered prices were $5-$12 higher in Nebraska at $332-$340 and $7-$8 higher in the western Corn Belt at $335.

The five-area direct weighted average FOB live fed steer price last week was $3.93 higher at $211.63/cwt. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $9.10 higher at $336.81.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.00 higher Monday afternoon at $333.52/cwt. Select was $3.22 higher at $318.77.

Grain and Soybean futures were lower Monday, with little direction other than turbulence in the outside markets.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were unchanged to 2¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 5¢ lower. Soybean futures were 6¢ to 8¢ lower.  

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand in the western Corn Belt to inactive on very light demand elsewhere through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were $4-$6 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $208-$210/cwt., $6 higher in Kansas at $210, $4-$6 higher in Nebraska at $212-$214 and $4-$7 higher in the western Corn Belt at $212-$215. Dressed delivered prices were $5-$12 higher in Nebraska at $332-$340 and $7-$8 higher in the western Corn Belt at $335.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.38 lower Friday afternoon at $331.51/cwt. Select was 84¢ lower at $315.55.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 576,000 head was 12,000 head more than the previous week but 42,000 head fewer than the same week a year earlier. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 9.0 million head was 530,000 head fewer (-5.6%). Estimated year-to-date beef production of 7.6 billion pounds was 147.2 million pounds less (-1.8%).

Equity and futures markets were closed Friday in observance of Good Friday. Cattle futures trended higher during the week, supported by stronger negotiated cash fed cattle prices.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $6.27 higher week to week on Thursday ($4.25 higher at the back to $8.98 higher at the front.

Week to week on Thursday, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $9.41 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade and demand were moderate in the Texas Panhandle through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. FOB live prices were $4 higher at $208/cwt.

Elsewhere, trade was limited on light-to-moderate demand with too few transactions to trend. However, private sources were reporting higher prices in the North, too.

Last week, FOB live prices were $204 in Kansas and $208 in the North, where dressed delivered prices were $327-$328.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 63¢ lower Thursday afternoon at $332.90/cwt. Select was $2.00 higher at $316.39.

Cattle futures continued higher Thursday, supported by higher cash fed cattle prices.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 92¢ higher (12¢ higher toward the back to $2.67 higher in spot Apr), except for 25¢ lower in away-Aug.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.50 higher (22¢ higher toward the back to $3.37 higher in spot Apr), except for an average of 9¢ lower in the back two contracts.

Grain and Soybean futures were mainly lower Thursday, with likely profit taking and positioning ahead of the long weekend.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures fractionally lower to 1¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were mostly 1¢ to 3¢ lower. Soybean futures were mostly 2¢ to 3¢ lower.  

Cattle futures were higher Wednesday, continuing to backfill the gap left by tariff pressures. Positioning ahead of the monthly Cattle on Feed report — due out Thursday rather than the usual Friday — could have lent added support. Estimates ahead of the report peg March placements about 3.5% higher year over year and the on-feed inventory April 1 down close to 2%.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.23 higher (27¢ higher at the back to $2.27 higher at the front), except for 15¢ lower in away-Aug.

Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 94¢ higher (45¢ higher at the back to $1.65 higher toward the front), except for 5¢ lower in Mar.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from inactive on very light demand in the western Corn Belt to  a standstill elsewhere through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $204/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $208 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $327-$328.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.90 lower Wednesday afternoon at $333.53/cwt. Select was 85¢ lower at $314.39.

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Wednesday, helped along by the lower U.S. dollar.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 1¢ to 2¢ higher. Kansas City Wheat futures were 4¢ to 7¢ higher. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 4¢ higher.  

Cattle futures were higher again Tuesday.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 70¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.44 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill in all regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Last week, FOB live prices were $204/cwt. in the Southern Plains and $208 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $327-$328.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 13¢ lower Tuesday afternoon at $335.43/cwt. Select was 61¢ lower at $315.24.

Grain and Soybean futures softened Monday with likely continued profit taking.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were mostly fractionally higher to 4¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 2¢ to 3¢ lower. Soybean futures were fractionally lower to 6¢ lower.

Cattle futures were higher again Monday, as outside markets continued to improve.

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.36 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.22 higher.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was at a standstill in all regions through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were $4 lower in the Southern Plains at $204/cwt. and $2-$5 lower in the North at $208. Dressed delivered prices were $7-$8 lower at $327-$328.

Last week’s five-area direct weighted average FOB live fed steer price was $3.44 lower last week at $207.70/cwt. The weighted average dressed delivered fed steer price was $8.74 lower at $327.73.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.41 higher Monday afternoon at $335.63/cwt. Select was $1.89 higher at $315.85.

Grain and Soybean futures softened Monday with likely profit taking.

Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 1¢ to 6¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 13¢ to 14¢ lower. Soybean futures were 1¢ lower to 1¢ higher.

Cattle futures closed higher Friday, following stronger equity markets.

Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.15 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.47 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of 80¢ lower in the front three contracts to an average of $2.45 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.57 higher during the same period.

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light demand in all regions through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

For the week, FOB live prices were $2-$5 lower at $208/cwt. in Nebraska and the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $7-$8 lower at $327-$328.

The previous week, live FOB prices were $208 in the Southern Plains.

Wholesale beef prices softened. Choice boxed beef cutout value was 7¢ lower Friday afternoon at $334.22/cwt. Select was $1 lower at $313.96.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 564,000 head was 27,000 head fewer than the previous week and 34,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 8.4 million head was 483,000 head fewer (-5.4%) than the same week a year earlier. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 7.4 billion pounds was 126.4 million pounds less (-1.7%).

Grain and Soybean futures were higher Friday.

Corn futures were mostly 8¢ to 9¢ higher, supported by the week’s U.S. export sales, lower U.S. dollar and added weather premium. Week to week on Friday, they were an average of 20’3¢ higher through the front six contracts.

Kansas City Wheat futures were 10¢ higher. Soybean futures were mostly 15¢ to 20¢ higher.