Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael


Cattle Current Podcast—April 1, 2025

March 31, 2025

Cattle futures were mixed to lower Monday with likely month-end and quarter-end profit taking.


Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 82¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 58¢ lower to an average of 19¢ higher. 


Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from mostly inactive on very light demand in the western Corn Belt to a standstill elsewhere through Monday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.


Last week, FOB live prices were steady to $1 lower in the Southern Plains at $209-$210/cwt. and unevenly steady in the North at mostly $213. Dressed delivered prices were steady to $10 higher at $335-$345.


The weighted average five-area direct FOB live steer price last week was 62¢ lower at $212.14. The weighted average dressed delivered steer price was $3.17 higher at $338.32.


Choice boxed beef cutout value was $2.44 higher Monday afternoon at $335.26/cwt. Select was $1.33 higher at $320.01.


Grain and Soybean were mixed Monday with the reaction to USDA’s Planting Intensions and Grain Stocks reports, suggesting the market had factored in similar numbers. More about those reports momentarily.


Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were fractionally higher to 4¢ higher, supported by tighter stocks. Kansas City Wheat futures were 3¢ to 4¢ higher. Soybean futures were 9¢ to 10¢ lower.