Cattle traded with solid gains for most of the week this week, posting solid gains by the end of the week Thursday. Strong demand and higher cash bids at auction helped to push the cattle higher this week. Technical selling and a round of profit taking did pull cattle lower midweek, but Thursday’s session more than made up for the pressure.
As of Friday morning, heavy selling pressure had returned to the cattle market. At one point both the live and feeder cattle contracts were trading limit down, but as of the writing of the article, cattle were sharply lower. Selling was tied to a knee jerk reaction to reports of 8 new cases of new world screw worn in Mexico this week. This has put the TX Ag Commissioner to put cattle producers in RX on high alert and is encouraging them to inspect their cattle daily.
Cattle started the week with gains and extended strength early. Early support came from last week’s strong cash trade with showed good cash activity for both live cattle and feeders. Gains were trimmed around midsession with selling tied to expectations for USDA’s reports to be neutral to friendly. That was not the case, which helped cattle recover their gains late in the session. Light support was also due to reports of another new world screw worm cash within 200 miles of the border. Feeder cattle were supported by a lower grain complex.
USDA estimated 2025 beef production at 26.066 billion pounds, up 50 million pounds from last month. 2026 beef production was estimated at 25.802 billion pounds, up 10 million pounds from last month.
Buying continued to push cattle higher on Tuesday. After opening the session steady to firm cattle proceeded to rally to post solid gains by midsession. Strong cash bids and strong demand continue to give feeder cattle strength. Technical buying is adding to the push as it now appears that both contracts are trying to make a run for contract highs. Reports of more new world screw worm cases added support.
Midweek brought in technical selling and a round of profit taking. Live cattle opened the session lower across the board and never really saw the positive side of the ledger while feeder cattle opened steady to higher before fading into the red soon after the opening bell. The lack of a cash trade added pressure to the live cattle. A stronger grain complex added selling pressure to the feeder cattle. Strong demand and firm cash bids at auction helped to limit the pressure.
Buying returned the cattle market to close out the week Thursday. After opening the session steady to slightly higher cattle never really looked back. Early support came from technical buying as traders try to make another run at old contract highs. The front month Feb saw gains trimmed due to the lack of a cash trade. Strong cash bids at auction continued to give feeder cattle support. Last week’s beef export sales pace was estimated at 11.192 MT. Technical resistance for the Feb live cattle market is at $241.35 while $371.15 is resistance for Jan feeder cattle.
The CME cash feeder cattle index was up $1.35 at $369.42.
For the week, February live cattle closed at $232.15 down $1.575. Jan feeder cattle closed at $361.925 up $1.20.
Cattle Weekly Comments January 16
Cattle Weekly Comments January 16
Cattle traded with solid gains for most of the week this week, posting solid gains by the end of the week Thursday. Strong demand and higher cash bids at auction helped to push the cattle higher this week. Technical selling and a round of profit taking did pull cattle lower midweek, but Thursday’s session more than made up for the pressure.
As of Friday morning, heavy selling pressure had returned to the cattle market. At one point both the live and feeder cattle contracts were trading limit down, but as of the writing of the article, cattle were sharply lower. Selling was tied to a knee jerk reaction to reports of 8 new cases of new world screw worn in Mexico this week. This has put the TX Ag Commissioner to put cattle producers in RX on high alert and is encouraging them to inspect their cattle daily.
Cattle started the week with gains and extended strength early. Early support came from last week’s strong cash trade with showed good cash activity for both live cattle and feeders. Gains were trimmed around midsession with selling tied to expectations for USDA’s reports to be neutral to friendly. That was not the case, which helped cattle recover their gains late in the session. Light support was also due to reports of another new world screw worm cash within 200 miles of the border. Feeder cattle were supported by a lower grain complex.
USDA estimated 2025 beef production at 26.066 billion pounds, up 50 million pounds from last month. 2026 beef production was estimated at 25.802 billion pounds, up 10 million pounds from last month.
Buying continued to push cattle higher on Tuesday. After opening the session steady to firm cattle proceeded to rally to post solid gains by midsession. Strong cash bids and strong demand continue to give feeder cattle strength. Technical buying is adding to the push as it now appears that both contracts are trying to make a run for contract highs. Reports of more new world screw worm cases added support.
Midweek brought in technical selling and a round of profit taking. Live cattle opened the session lower across the board and never really saw the positive side of the ledger while feeder cattle opened steady to higher before fading into the red soon after the opening bell. The lack of a cash trade added pressure to the live cattle. A stronger grain complex added selling pressure to the feeder cattle. Strong demand and firm cash bids at auction helped to limit the pressure.
Buying returned the cattle market to close out the week Thursday. After opening the session steady to slightly higher cattle never really looked back. Early support came from technical buying as traders try to make another run at old contract highs. The front month Feb saw gains trimmed due to the lack of a cash trade. Strong cash bids at auction continued to give feeder cattle support. Last week’s beef export sales pace was estimated at 11.192 MT. Technical resistance for the Feb live cattle market is at $241.35 while $371.15 is resistance for Jan feeder cattle.
The CME cash feeder cattle index was up $1.35 at $369.42.
For the week, February live cattle closed at $232.15 down $1.575. Jan feeder cattle closed at $361.925 up $1.20.