Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 1-2, 2025
Cattle futures regained the previous session’s losses and more on Friday as traders retrenched for the beginning of a new month.
Live cattle futures were an average of $2.70 higher and Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.89 higher.
Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.61 higher and Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $3.23 higher.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska to mostly inactive on moderate demand elsewhere through Friday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
For the week, FOB live prices were $2 higher in the Southern Plains at $242.00/cwt. and steady in the North at $245. Dressed delivered prices were steady at mainly $385.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.00 higher Friday afternoon at $415.41. Select was $4.16 higher at $390.00. Week to week on Friday, Choice boxed beef cutout value was $7.50 higher and Select was $6.34 higher.
Estimated total cattle slaughter last week of 565,000 head was 14,000 head more than the previous week but 52,000 head fewer than the same week last year. Estimated total year-to-date cattle slaughter of 19.5 million head was 1.4 million head fewer (-6.9%) than the same time last year. Estimated year-to-date beef production of 16.9 billion pounds was 707 million pounds less (-4.0%).