Cattle Correcting Lower Ahead of Friday’s Cattle on Feed Report on Thursday

Live cattle futures are slipping back 42 to 87 cents across the front months at midday. Cash trade has yet to be reported this week. The Thursday Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed no sales on the 1,884 head offered, with a few bids of $224. Feeder cattle futures are back down $1.52 to $2.37 at midday, as traders square up ahead of the Friday Cattle on Feed report.  The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back down $1.29 on October 19 to $342.16. 

The monthly NASS Cattle on Feed report will be released on Friday, with traders surveyed by Reuters looking for September placements to be down 7.4% from a year ago and marketings down 7%. October 1 on feed is expected to be up 0.3% from last year. 

USDA Export Sales data showed 18,476 MT of beef sold in the week ending on 10/15 for 2026. Shipments were 11,026 MT in that week a 5-week low.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were lower in the Thursday AM report, with the Chc/Sel at $15.90. Choice boxes were down $2 to $370.59, with Select back down 65 cents to $354.69. USDA estimated Federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday at 110,000 head, as the week to date total is 327,000. That was 1,000 head above the week prior and now 469 head above the same week last year. 

Oct 26 Live Cattle  are at $230.000, down $0.425,

Dec 26 Live Cattle  are at $230.550, down $0.575,

Feb 27 Live Cattle  are at $232.950, down $0.875,

Oct 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $346.300, down $1.525

Nov 26 Feeder Cattle  are at $346.550, down $2.275

Jan 27 Feeder Cattle  are at $343.450, down $2.375

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.