Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael


Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 17, 2025

October 17, 2025

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on moderate demand in the North to inactive on light demand in the Southern Plains through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Although too few to trend, there were some early FOB live sales in Nebraska at $240/cwt. and in the western Corn Belt at $238-$240.

Last week, FOB live prices were $235 in Kansas, $234-$235 in Nebraska and mainly $235 in the western Corn Belt. Dressed delivered prices were $362.

FOB live prices in the Texas Panhandle the previous week were $233.

Choice boxed beef cutout value was 37¢ lower Thursday afternoon at $366.11/cwt. Select was 23¢ lower at $348.93.

Cattle futures rose Thursday with the promise of higher cash fed cattle prices for the week.

Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.23 higher.

Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.07 higher, except for 5¢ lower in spot Oct.

Then came President Trump’s widely reported and nebulous comments that the White House had a plan to lower beef prices soon. Through mid-day today, Live Cattle futures were an average of $6.16 lower and Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $9.06 lower — limit down in all but one contract.

Grain and Soybean futures firmed Thursday with technical support and positive chatter about trade talk with China.

Corn futures closed mostly 2¢ to 5¢ higher. KC HRW Wheat closed fractionally mixed to 1¢ lower. Soybean futures closed 2¢ to 4¢ higher through Mar ‘27.