Today’s Livestock Market Update

It was another grand day for the live cattle complex as the market successfully rounded out the day stronger, closing at new contract highs once again. December live cattle closed $2.22 higher at $244.75, February live cattle closed $1.80 higher at $247.20 and April live cattle closed $1.10 higher at $248.22. Fueled by the market’s robust accomplishments last week, and clinging to the hope that this week’s market will be as fruitful, traders weren’t timid about supporting the complex early in the week.

LIVE CATTLE:

Last week, some light sales were noted in the North, where dressed cattle traded for mostly $362 which is $2.00 higher than the previous week’s weighted average, but it wasn’t until Monday morning that we were finally able to see where Southern live cattle traded at because by Friday’s end, still no significant volume of Southern live cattle had developed. But after Friday’s cut-off time for reporting to the USDA, Southern live cattle were marked at mostly $235, which is $2.00 higher than the previous week’s weighted average. And the week’s total volume of negotiated cash cattle sales totaled 54,151 head, of which 71% (38,576 head) were committed to the market’s nearby delivery, and the remaining 29% (15,575 head) were committed to the market’s deferred delivery option.

Boxed beef prices closed mixed: choice down $1.66 ($363.91) and select up $3.36 ($349.75) with a movement of 173 loads (100.72 loads of choice, 23.18 loads of select, 3.19 loads of ground beef and 45.87 loads of trim).

TUESDAY’S CATTLE CALL:

Higher. It’s not likely that the fed cash cattle market will see much trade develop until later in the week, but when trade does develop, it could be higher.

FEEDER CATTLE:

It was another strong day for the feeder cattle complex as the market rallied through the day’s end, successfully pushing many of its contracts to new contract highs yet again. Fueled by the strong momentum in the marketplace and by the elevated demand in the countryside, the market saw its biggest gains in its deferred contracts, which closed anywhere from $2.00 to $3.00 higher. November feeders closed $0.82 higher at $376.72, January feeders closed $1.77 higher at $373.72 and March feeders closed $2.35 higher at $371.25. At Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, compared to last week, feeder steers traded $10.00 to $20.00 higher, and feeder heifers sold $5.00 to $15.00 higher. Steer and heifer calves sold $20.00 to $30.00 higher, and some heifer calves sold up to $40.00 higher. Feeder cattle supply over 600 pounds was 64%. The CME feeder cattle index 10/10/2025: up $1.08, $369.00.