Live cattle futures are down 7 to 95 cents across most contracts on Monday, off the morning lows. Cash trade fell into place later last week, with northern dressed action at $385-392 and live trade at $245. Southern trade was up $5 to 240. Feeder cattle futures are up 37 cents in August and other contracts down 85 cent to $2. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up $2.74 to $350.18 on August 21. Monday’s OKC weekly feeder auction shows an estimated 6,250 head for sale, above last week. 

Over the weekend a Reuters report indicated the first human case of a New World Screwworm was detected in a person from Maryland who had previously traveled to Guatemala. It must be noted that there have been no animals in the US reported with the worm.

USDA’s Cattle on Feed report showed July placements 6.11% below last year at 1.598 million head. July marketings were down 5.71% from 2024 at 1.749 million head. August 1 on feed inventory was down 1.56% at 10.922 million head. 

Cold Storage data showed a total of 397.818 million lbs of beef on hand at the end of July, which was a drop of 0.64% from last year and 0.98% above July 2024.

USDA Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Monday morning report, with the Chc/Sel spread at $22.98. Choice boxes were up 62 cents at $408.53, while Select was $1.89 higher to $385.55. USDA estimated cattle slaughter last week at 547,000 head. That was up 17,000 head from last week but 61,984 head lower vs. the same week in 2024.

Aug 25 Live Cattle  are at $239.875, down $0.075,

Oct 25 Live Cattle  are at $237.025, down $0.850,

Dec 25 Live Cattle  are at $238.200, down $0.950,

Aug 25 Feeder Cattle  are at $360.725, up $0.375

Sep 25 Feeder Cattle  are at $361.825, down $0.850

Oct 25 Feeder Cattle  are at $360.500, down $2.000