Monday, August 17, 2026

Monday Midday Livestock Market Summary - Futures Start Mixed

GENERAL COMMENTS:

The livestock complex is mixed trading into Monday's noon hour as the live cattle and lean hog contracts are mostly higher, but the feeder cattle contracts are lower. New showlists for the week are mostly steady in Texas and Nebraska, but higher in Kansas. December corn is up 6 1/4 cents per bushel and December soybean meal is up $2.50. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 161.89 points and NASDAQ is up 3.19 points.

LIVE CATTLE:

The live cattle complex is mostly higher trading into Monday's noon hour, but the market has traded back and forth throughout the morning as traders are trying to put their finger on where trade direction is headed next. August live cattle are up $0.95 at $224.57, October live cattle are down $0.02 at $218.85 and December live cattle are up $0.22 at $218.60.

The cash cattle market remains quiet at Monday's noon hour as no bids or asking prices have surfaced. New showlists for the week are mostly steady in Texas and Nebraska, but higher in Kansas. Last week Southern live cattle traded at $22, which is $7.00 lower than the previous week's weighted average and Northern dressed cattle traded at $365, which is $5.00 lower than the previous week's weighed average.

Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $2.36 ($377.66) and select up $9.78 ($361.02) with a movement of 29 loads (20.57 loads of choice, 4.78 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 3.24 loads of ground beef).

FEEDER CATTLE:

While the live cattle complex may be seeing some minor support from traders, the feeder cattle complex is struggling to muster the same level of support Monday morning as its contracts are trading lower into the day's noon hour. More than likely the feeder cattle contracts are trading lower as traders simply aren't confident about the market's nearby future as the midterm elections are nearing, the border is set to begin to allow imports from Mexico starting next Monday, and headline news like what Tyson Foods shared last week (that they're closing two more beef plants and intend to sell another) continue to wreak havoc on the market's stability. August feeder cattle are down $0.57 at $340.25, September feeders are down $2.07 at $332.47 and October feeders are down $0.92 at $324.50.

LEAN HOGS:

The lean hog complex is enjoying a modest rally Monday morning as traders are helping support the contracts mildly, although midday pork cutout values are lower again. October lean hogs are steady at $81.75, December lean hogs are up $0.15 at $72.62 and February lean hogs are up $0.15 at $75.90. If the market is to sustain a rally throughout the week it's going to be vital that fundamental support improves, especially from consumers. The projected CMD Lean Hog Index for 8/14/2026 is down $0.21 at $95.47 and the actual index for 8/13/2026 is down $0.19 at $95.68. Hog prices are lower on the Daily Direct Morning Hog Report, down $1.35 with a weighted average price of $91.68, ranging from $91.00 to $97.00 on 1,463 head and a five-day rolling average of $95.80. Pork cutouts total 183.16 loads with 161.51 loads of pork cuts and 21.65 loads of trim. Pork cutout values: down $0.94, $98.96.




No comments:

Post a Comment