GENERAL COMMENTS:
All in all, it was an exceptional day for the livestock complex as the contracts closed higher thanks to ample trader support. New showlists appear to be mixed, lower in Texas and Nebraska/Colorado, but higher in Kansas. May corn is down 13 1/4 cents per bushel and May soybean meal is down $10.50. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 387.94 points and the NASDAQ is up 268.82 points.
LIVE CATTLE:
It was a peculiar day for the live cattle complex as the market closed fully higher, even though today was the kick-off for the union labor strike at the JBS packing plant in Greeley, Colorado. One would logically think that the plant strike would have a negative effect on the complex, but instead, the market closed higher. April live cattle closed $2.35 higher at $233.25, June live cattle closed $2.92 higher at $231.87 and August live cattle closed $2.85 higher at $229.67. More than anything, the market seemed somewhat willing to move beyond the plant strike news (for the day, anyway) and simply take the technical support that was available in the marketplace. No cash cattle trade developed throughout the day. New showlists appear to be mixed, lower in Texas and Nebraska/Colorado, but higher in Kansas. Monday's slaughter is estimated at 98,000 head, 5,000 head less than a week ago and 16,000 head less than a year ago.
Last week, Northern dressed cattle were marked at mostly $372, which is $8.00 lower than the previous week's weighted average and Southern live cattle traded at mostly $235 to $236, which is $4.00 lower in Texas than compared to the previous week and $5.00 lower in Kansas than compared to the previous week.
Boxed beef prices closed higher: choice up $4.74 ($402.66) and select up $2.97 ($394.51) with a movement of 56 loads (40.51 loads of choice, 6.86 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 8.76 loads of ground beef).
TUESDAY'S CATTLE CALL: Lower. With throughput reduced this week, cash prices will likely trade lower again this week.
FEEDER CATTLE:
The feeder cattle complex followed in the direction of the live cattle market as it too closed higher. But aside from the technical support of seeing the live cattle complex trend higher, the feeder cattle market also saw greater demand today in the countryside as prices traded noticeably higher. March feeders closed $5.97 higher at $355.45, April feeders closed $6.75 higher at $349.85 and May feeders closed $6.37 higher at $245.55. At the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers traded $10.00 to $15.00 higher, steer calves sold $10.00 to $20.00 higher and heifer calves sold $5.00 to $15.00 higher. Feeder cattle supply over 600 pounds was 58%. The CME feeder cattle index 3/13/2026: down $1.30, $357.05.
LEAN HOGS:
The lean hog complex enjoyed a mostly fruitful day, as most of its contracts closed higher. The market seemed willing to trade higher as traders noted the slight increase in pork demand and were pleased to see the contracts potentially forming somewhat of a bottom in the market for its current move. April lean hogs closed $0.05 higher at $93.50, June lean hogs closed $0.12 lower at $107.25 and July lean hogs closed $).02 higher at $109.32. Hog prices closed $1.09 lower on the Daily Direct Afternoon Hog Report, with a weighted average price of $90.73 on 3,495 head. Pork cutouts total 227.82 loads with 195.92 loads of pork cuts and 31.90 loads of trim. Pork cutout values: up $0.25, $100.44. Monday's slaughter is estimated at 404,000 head, 81,000 head less than a year ago and 84,000 head less than a year ago. The CME lean hog index 3/12/2026: up $0.16, $91.60.
TUESDAY'S HOG CALL: Higher. With pork demand up slightly, packers may be a tick more aggressive in Tuesday's cash market.
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