Live cattle gapped higher at the start of the week, then traded in a choppy fashion on both sides of unchanged only to close with decent gains. Feeder cattle traded back and forth on both sides of unchanged and ended the session mixed with losses in the April and May contracts and small gains in the deferred contracts. Support came from stronger cash trade and the gains in the stock market. Workers at the JBS plant in Greeley, CO, are returning to work after agreeing to resume contract negotiations, ending the 3-week long strike.
Tuesday’s session had live cattle closing mixed with the front month April closing with small gains, June with triple digit losses and the deferred months with double digit losses. Feeder cattle closed with triple digit losses in all months. Early selling was tied to technical selling as traders took money off the table after live cattle established new all-time highs earlier in the week. Feeder cattle Also saw technical selling as sell orders were triggered once the Oct gap was filled. Losses were trimmed by last week’s impressive cash trade, which took place between $245 and $246, up $8 to $10 from the previous week. Strong demand and tight supplies continue to put underlining support in cattle.
Gains returned to the cattle markets midweek as live cattle closed with double digit gains while feeder cattle closed with triple digit gains in all months. Cattle gapped higher on the opening bell and continued to trade with solid gains during the first half of the session. A more mixed performance dominated the market in the second half of the day. Early support spilled over from a sharply lower crude oil market and sharply higher stock market. Last week’s strong cash trade added support as most expect cash to trade steady this week. Tuesday’s APHIS update is showing 42 active new world screw worm cases in Mexico.
Strong gains continued to be the theme in the cattle markets to wrap up the week. Live cattle closed higher in all months while feeder cattle closed with solid triple digit gains in all contracts. Cattle opened the session steady to lower with early selling tied to uncertainty in the middle east. Reports have the ceasefire already being broke, which in turn is keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. The uncertainty led to crude oil rallying higher and the stock market coming under pressure, which led to the sloppy session in the meats. Profit taking and technical buying stepped in to support cattle late in the session. Reports of a light cash trade taking place at $246 ($1 higher) added support.
Last week’s beef export sales pace was estimated at 17,408 MT, the third largest pace this marketing year.
USDA left their 2025 beef production estimate unchanged at 26.067 billion pounds. 2026 beef production was trimmed 20 million pounds to 25.857 billion pounds. The national per capita consumption of beef increased from 59.6 pounds per person to 59.8 pounds per person.
For the week, April live cattle closed at $251.775 up $5.575. April feeder cattle closed at $374.15 up $1.25.
Cattle Weekly Comments April 10
Cattle Weekly Comments April 10
Live cattle gapped higher at the start of the week, then traded in a choppy fashion on both sides of unchanged only to close with decent gains. Feeder cattle traded back and forth on both sides of unchanged and ended the session mixed with losses in the April and May contracts and small gains in the deferred contracts. Support came from stronger cash trade and the gains in the stock market. Workers at the JBS plant in Greeley, CO, are returning to work after agreeing to resume contract negotiations, ending the 3-week long strike.
Tuesday’s session had live cattle closing mixed with the front month April closing with small gains, June with triple digit losses and the deferred months with double digit losses. Feeder cattle closed with triple digit losses in all months. Early selling was tied to technical selling as traders took money off the table after live cattle established new all-time highs earlier in the week. Feeder cattle Also saw technical selling as sell orders were triggered once the Oct gap was filled. Losses were trimmed by last week’s impressive cash trade, which took place between $245 and $246, up $8 to $10 from the previous week. Strong demand and tight supplies continue to put underlining support in cattle.
Gains returned to the cattle markets midweek as live cattle closed with double digit gains while feeder cattle closed with triple digit gains in all months. Cattle gapped higher on the opening bell and continued to trade with solid gains during the first half of the session. A more mixed performance dominated the market in the second half of the day. Early support spilled over from a sharply lower crude oil market and sharply higher stock market. Last week’s strong cash trade added support as most expect cash to trade steady this week. Tuesday’s APHIS update is showing 42 active new world screw worm cases in Mexico.
Strong gains continued to be the theme in the cattle markets to wrap up the week. Live cattle closed higher in all months while feeder cattle closed with solid triple digit gains in all contracts. Cattle opened the session steady to lower with early selling tied to uncertainty in the middle east. Reports have the ceasefire already being broke, which in turn is keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. The uncertainty led to crude oil rallying higher and the stock market coming under pressure, which led to the sloppy session in the meats. Profit taking and technical buying stepped in to support cattle late in the session. Reports of a light cash trade taking place at $246 ($1 higher) added support.
Last week’s beef export sales pace was estimated at 17,408 MT, the third largest pace this marketing year.
USDA left their 2025 beef production estimate unchanged at 26.067 billion pounds. 2026 beef production was trimmed 20 million pounds to 25.857 billion pounds. The national per capita consumption of beef increased from 59.6 pounds per person to 59.8 pounds per person.
For the week, April live cattle closed at $251.775 up $5.575. April feeder cattle closed at $374.15 up $1.25.