Sharp gains quickly developed in cattle futures Friday, starting 2026 with a bang. Aggressive triple-digit gains were noted in both live cattle and feeder cattle futures, creating optimism for January market direction. LIVE CATTLE: Live cattle futures surged higher Friday with active buyer support flooding the market following the holiday break. Spot-month February futures led the market, pushing prices $4.40 per cwt higher and closing at $236 per cwt. The aggressive market move broke through the 100-day moving average and …