Live cattle futures rounded out the Thursday session with contracts down $2.35 to $3.05. Cash trade started to pick up, with a few light northern sales of $378-380 dressed and live action reported at $238-240 by USDA, with Southern trade at $237-238. Feeder cattle futures fell $3.35 to $4.40 at the Thursday close. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down $3.55 on July 15 to $365.52.
Export Sales data from USDA showed beef sales for 2026 at 7,973 MT for the week ending on 7/9. That was the 4th lowest total for the calendar year. Shipments were tallied at 10,354 MT, which was a calendar year low.
