Wednesday markets
“Sadly, so far through Wednesday’s trade it’s been another disappointing day where the livestock markets continue to lack support from every direction,” ShayLe Stewart, DTN livestock analyst, wrote in her midday comments.
Live cattle futures closed lower, with the December contract down 15 cents to $218 and the February contract 60 cents lower to $220.82.
Cash trade was moderate, with 8,195 head sold. Live steers sold from $215-218, and dressed steers sold between $335-340. On the formula side, 20,700 head averaging 955 lbs. sold for an average of $362.15.
“Negotiated fed cattle prices have fallen hard this week, Nebraska trading nearly 19k cattle yesterday with an average price of $217.65/cwt down from last week’s $224.07 average on live steers and the recent high of $227.85 made two weeks ago,” wrote Cassie Fish, market analyst, in The Beef. “Dressed prices yesterday averaged $339.71/cwt, down from last week’s average of $351.09. These prices are the lowest for 2026, taking out the cash lows made Labor Day week.”
Today’s slaughter is estimated to be 109,000 head, the same as last week.
Boxed beef prices were lower on 114 loads, with the Choice cutout down $2.73 to $362.50 and the Select cutout down $1.72 to $356.65.
Feeder cattle
Feeder cattle futures closed triple digits lower, with the November contract down $2.50 to $332.02 and the January contract $2.65 lower to $325.72.
“It is worth noting that the spot January contract is breaking below the market’s 100-day moving average—which is a bearish technical sign,” Stewart wrote.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down $1.68 to $348.78.
Corn futures closed higher, with the December contract up a penny to $4.45 and the March contract up 2 cents to $4.58.
Texas: Lonestar Stockyards in Wildorado sold 706 head on Tuesday. Compared to the previous auction, weaned steer calves with at least two rounds of shots traded mostly $$5 higher. Not enough comparable heifer sales were available to establish a market trend, but a lower undertone was noted after the past two weeks of advances on heifers. A group of fleshy, benchmark steers averaging 724 lbs. sold for $313.
Utah: Producers Livestock in Salina sold 1,695 head on Tuesday. Compared to the previous auction, feeder cattle sold sharply lower. Benchmark steers averaging 717 lbs. sold for $327.50-350, averaging $342.60.
Wyoming: Winter Livestock in Riverton sold 3,246 head on Tuesday. Compared to the last auction, feeder steers were mostly steady with lower undertones noted. Feeder heifers sold steady to lower undertones, with the offering less attractive than the previous week. Benchmark steers averaging 718 lbs. sold for $320-339, averaging $330.62. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
