The livestock complex ended the day mixed, with the cattle contracts closing weaker, but the lean hog contracts were met with mild trader support. No cash cattle trade developed throughout the day. July corn is up 3 1/4 cents per bushel and July soybean meal is up $3.50. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 24.69 points and the NASDAQ is up 242.74 points.
LIVE CATTLE:The live cattle complex drifted lower throughout the day as traders didn't see enough fundamental support in the market to justify pushing the contracts any higher. June live cattle closed $1.67 lower at $249.75, August live cattle closed $1.50 lower at $241.00 and October live cattle closed $1.40 lower at $232.57. Bids of $253 were offered throughout the day in Kansas and Nebraska, but no cattle traded. And at this point, asking prices remain elusive.
Thursday's slaughter is estimated at 110,000 head -- 1,000 head more than a week ago and 11,000 head less than a year ago.
Boxed beef prices closed lower: choice down $2.40 ($392.32) and select down $3.71 ($385.58) with a movement of 125 loads (89.25 loads of choice, 12.90 loads of select, 8.44 loads of trim and 14.29 loads of ground beef).
FRIDAY'S CATTLE CALL: Steady. There's a chance that packers could be short bought and that prices may trade higher later this week, but with boxed beef prices closing lower, packers will likely try to use that as leverage and work the cash market lower.
FEEDER CATTLE:Without the help or support of the live cattle contracts, the feeder cattle contracts closed lower without another option in hand. August feeders closed $1.60 lower at $353.02, September feeders closed $1.55 lower at $350.25 and October feeders closed $1.47 lower at $347.00. At the Winter Livestock Auction in Pratt, Kansas, compared to last week, feeder steers weighing 875 to 975 pounds sold unevenly steady, however load lots sold up to $5.00 higher. Steers weighing 775 to 875 pounds traded up to $10.00 higher. Feeder heifers weighing 700 to 950 pounds traded $9.00 to $12.00 higher. Feeder cattle supply over 600 pounds was 96%. The CME feeder cattle index 5/27/2026: up $2.37, $369.63.
LEAN HOGS:The lean hog complex was able to end the day mostly higher on the June 2026 contract closing the day lower. Traders were pleased to see pork cutout values higher at midday, but unfortunately, the afternoon's carcass price did close a tick lower. June lean hogs closed $0.62 lower at $96.97, July lean hogs closed steady at $102.12 and August lean hogs closed $0.07 higher at $100.92. Hog prices closed lower on the Daily Direct Afternoon Hog report, down $1.00 with a weighted average price of $93.64 on 2,232 head. Thursday's slaughter is estimated at 476,000 head -- 8,000 head less than a week ago and steady with a year ago. Pork cutouts totaled 335.54 loads with 288.22 loads of pork cuts and 47.31 loads of trim. Pork cutout values: up $0.76, $99.11. The CME lean hog index 5/26/2026: down $0.12, $90.58.
FRIDAY'S HOG CALL: Lower. Packers have likely secured the vast majority of their cash needs for the week.
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