GENERAL COMMENTS:
All in all, it was a normal, post-holiday day for the livestock complex as the markets traded throughout the day but nothing much developed. Some live cash cattle trade was noted in the North, but prices remained steady with the week's weighted average. March corn is down 1 cent per bushel and March soybean meal is down $0.70. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 20.19 points and NASDAQ is down 20.21 points.
From Friday-to-Friday, livestock futures scored the following changes: December live cattle down $0.57, February live cattle down $1.15; January feeder cattle up $0.57, March feeder cattle up $1.03; February lean hogs up $0.03, April lean hogs up $0.35; March corn up $0.06, May corn up $0.07.
LIVE CATTLE:
The live cattle complex closed higher as traders were no longer up against immediate resistance pressure. February live cattle closed $1.10 higher at $229.65, April live cattle closed $0.97 higher at $229.70 and June live cattle closed $0.95 higher at $224.15. Another handful of cattle traded in the North, but prices remained steady with the week's weighted average. Throughout the week, Northern dressed cattle have traded at mostly $356, which is $1 lower than last week's weighted average, and Southern live cattle have been marked at $229, which is $2 higher than last week's weighted average. Wednesday's slaughter is estimated at 43,000 head -- incomparable to last week and a year ago.
Friday's slaughter is estimated at 110,000 head -- not comparable to last week but 11,000 head less than a year ago. Saturday's slaughter is projected to be around 32,000 head. The week's total slaughter is estimated at 429,000 head -- not comparable to last week but 4,000 head less than a year ago.
Boxed beef prices closed lower: choice down $3.41 ($351.21) and select down $1.95 ($343.80) with a movement of 70 loads (45.57 loads of choice, 7.09 loads of select, 4.02 loads of trim and 13.14 loads of ground beef).
MONDAY'S CATTLE CALL: Steady. With packers having bought a plethora of cattle ahead of the holiday week, it's likely they won't have to buy many cattle next week either.
FEEDER CATTLE:
Once again, the feeder cattle complex followed the direction of live cattle market as its contracts closed higher as well. January feeders closed $1.45 higher at $346.17, March feeders closed $1.62 higher at $340.42 and April feeders closed $1.70 higher at $339.20. It does remain worth noting that the spot March contract has maintained its position above the market's 100-day moving average. The CME Feeder Cattle Index 12/15/2025: down $4.69, $349.32.
LEAN HOGS:
The lean hog complex closed mostly lower as the market wasn't able to regain enough technical interest to drive the contracts any higher. February lean hogs closed $0.52 lower at $84.52, April lean hogs closed $0.32 lower at $89.47 and June lean hogs closed $0.20 lower at $102.32.
Hog prices on the Daily Direct Afternoon Hog Report averaged $67.19 on 700 head. Pork cutouts totaled 169.31 loads with 135.29 loads of pork cuts and 34.02 loads of trim. Pork cutout values: up $4.05, $97.71. Friday's slaughter is estimated at 484,000 head -- not comparable to last week but 1,000 head less than a year ago. Saturday's slaughter is estimated at 341,000 head. The CME Lean Hog Index 12/24/2025: not available at this time.
MONDAY'S HOG CALL: Steady. Packers weren't very active in this week's market, which could mean they need to buy a few more hogs next week.
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