14 July 2025

2 minute read

By: Global Ag Media

North America

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures touched contract highs on Friday on sizzling cash prices, while feeder cattle extended steep gains, Reuters reported, citing traders.

Futures surged this week as consumer demand for beef has remained solid while tight US cattle supplies are reducing production and driving up prices.

CME August live cattle futures reached a contract high of 223.275 cents per pound before closing up 2.975 cents at 222.2 cents per pound. That was up 3.8% for the week.

August feeder cattle ended 4.05 cents higher at 325.325 cents per pound, up 5% for the week. Front-month contracts repeatedly set records this week on a continuation chart.

Cattle traded in the cash market for about $240 per hundredweight in Nebraska, an analyst said. That would be up as much as about $8 from last week.

The sharp increase came after some traders last week were expecting cash prices to be steady or even lower this week due to waning beef demand following the July 4 holiday, when many consumers grill steaks and hamburgers.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) also said last week that it would restart cattle imports from Mexico on Monday at a port of entry in Douglas, Arizona, as part of a phased reopening of the border it closed to livestock shipments in May.

The USDA on Wednesday again halted Mexican cattle imports as part of efforts to keep out New World screwworm, a flesh-eating pest spreading south of the border.

The agency, in a monthly supply and demand report on Friday, lowered its estimate for 2025 U.S. beef production by 0.6% from June to 26.2 billion pounds. Output is expected to fall further next year to 25.8 billion pounds.

US wholesale boxed beef prices dropped for a third day. Choice cuts sank by $6.02 to $378.64 per hundredweight (cwt), according to USDA data.

For pork, CME August lean hogs ended down 1.55 cents at 104.675 cents per pound.