Cattle futures closed lower Friday with week-end and month-end position squaring and profit taking.

Live cattle futures closed an average of 43¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 93¢ lower.

Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 86¢ lower (32¢ to $1.10 lower), recovering much of steep early-week losses tied to unfounded rumors of New World screwworm being detected in the U.S.  Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.23 lower week to week.

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

Last week, FOB live prices were mostly $1-$3 higher in the Texas Panhandle at $221 to mostly $223/cwt., $1-$3 higher in Kansas at mainly $222, $5-$6 higher in Nebraska at $235-$237 and steady to $5 higher in the western Corn Belt at $230-$235. Dressed delivered prices were $3-$5 higher in Nebraska at $365-$370 and $6-$11 higher in the western Corn Belt at $371.

Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 477,000 head was 93,000 head fewer than the previous week (keeping in mind the holiday-shortened week) and 62,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Year-to-date total estimated cattle slaughter of 12.3 million head was 825,000 head fewer (-6.3%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 10.7 billion pounds was 323.5 million pounds less (-2.9%).

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 25¢ higher Friday afternoon at $366.34/cwt. Select was $3.01 higher at $356.65. Week to week on Friday, Choice was $4.79 higher and Select was $5.33 higher.

Turning to the grain complex, Corn and Soybean futures were lower Friday, pressured by favorable weather, renewed trade uncertainty and position squaring to round out the month and week.

Corn futures closed 1¢ to 4¢ lower through Jly ’26 and then fractionally higher to 3¢ higher. Soybean futures closed 9¢ to 12¢ lower through Aug ’26, and then mostly 5¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures closed fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.