March 27, 2026 — Live and feeder cattle futures posted significant gains in Friday trading, closing out the week with a strong rally. Market data shows live cattle contracts up between $3.45 and $3.95, while feeder cattle futures surged by more than $7.
Futures Market Activity
April 2026 Live Cattle futures settled at $238.575, up $3.475 for the session. The June 2026 contract gained $3.950 to reach $238.750. Feeder cattle markets saw even stronger advances, with the May 2026 contract climbing $7.325 to $359.075.
Cash trade activity was reported as light. A limited number of sales occurred between $234 and $235. Bids on Friday were noted at $235. The weekly Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed 40 head sold of the 1,024 head offered, with dressed sales at $370.
Support from Wholesale Beef and Indexes
Wholesale boxed beef prices moved higher in Friday morning reports, providing underlying support for the futures rally. Choice boxed beef climbed $4.24 to $394.09. Select boxed beef increased by 23 cents to $391.89.
The spread between Choice and Select, known as the Chc/Sel, returned to a Choice premium of $2.20. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was last reported at $363.24 on March 24, reflecting a $1.46 increase.
Slaughter Figures and Supply Context
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for Thursday, March 26, at 97,000 head. The weekly total reached 412,000 head. This figure represents a decrease of 2,000 head from the previous week and is 73,357 head below the same week last year.
These supply figures contributed to the supportive tone in the futures complex, as traders assessed available market-ready cattle numbers.
Monitoring Animal Health Developments
Market participants continue to monitor animal health reports. A Thursday update from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the New World Screwworm showed more active cases in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
The total active cases in that bordering state reached 40. One new active case was also reported in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. While not a direct market factor currently, such developments are watched for potential longer-term impacts on livestock health and trade flows. More information on animal health regulations is available from the USDA APHIS official website.
Market Outlook and Data Access
The rally concludes a week of trading that saw cattle futures demonstrate resilience. Traders will now assess weekend cash trade developments and upcoming USDA reports for further direction. Commodity market data and futures specifications are published by the CME Group.
Analysts note that the strength in feeder cattle, which are younger cattle sent to feedlots, often reflects expectations for future fed cattle supplies and feeding profitability.
All market data is sourced from commodity exchange feeds and USDA reports. This article is for informational purposes only.
This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and quality.
