US cattle futures rebound after USDA lifts Mexican cattle import ban

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ended a year‑long ban on imports of Mexican cattle that had been imposed to block the New World screwworm pest. The announcement sent live and feeder cattle futures sharply lower on Monday.

By Wednesday, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures had recovered, with live cattle up 0.425 ¢ per pound and feeder cattle up 1.200 ¢ per pound, helped by short‑covering. Analysts said the U.S. cattle inventory would remain tight for months even as imported cattle start to flow again.

In related livestock markets, lean‑hog futures fell on weak pork demand and a USDA pork carcass price of $101.78 per cwt, down $2.13. Beef cuts also slipped modestly.