CME cattle futures fall as weak cash prices and technical selling pressure market

Live cattle and feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange slipped in recent sessions, with August live cattle contracts dropping to their lowest level since March and falling below the 200‑day moving average. Cash cattle prices in Nebraska fell to about $380 per hundredweight, adding pressure to futures that were already considered oversold.

Technical selling was amplified by a sharp rise in corn prices, raising feed costs and weighing on both live and feeder cattle contracts. The U.S. cattle herd has contracted following a western drought and a ban on Mexican cattle imports to curb a screwworm outbreak. Border restrictions continue, with additional veterinary screenings required for livestock entering from Texas counties near the Mexico border.

While live cattle futures showed recent weakness, earlier in the month they had risen for five straight days on strong cash trades. Hog futures displayed mixed performance, with lean hog contracts edging higher amid choppy technical trading. USDA pricing data indicated modest declines in wholesale beef cuts, and meatpackers faced deep‑red margins, losing roughly $130 per head of cattle slaughtered.