CAB Market Update

Federally-inspected cattle harvest head counts have swung widely in the past three weeks, beginning with a 14,000 head decline two weeks ago as one fed cattle plant idled several days for scheduled upgrades. 

The third week of October’s recovery from the downturn pulled the fourth week’s total 9,000 head larger than the six-week average.

Late last week, President Donald Trump made statements about potential action to lower beef prices through purchases from Argentina. This brought an abrupt end to a precipitous nine-day run in which nearby live cattle contracts rose more than $13 per hundredweight (cwt) without correction. 

Oct. 17 feeder cattle futures were limit down, and live cattle futures traded sharply lower as a result.

Follow-up trade early this week showed resiliency in futures prices as the market has shrugged off the president’s comments, regaining much of the price slippage incurred on Oct. 17.

For instance, the April 2026 live cattle contract touched the high-water mark of $250 per cwt on Oct. 16 before settling $7.28 per cwt lower by the Oct. 17 close. 

By Oct. 21, a $3.05 per cwt recovery pulled the April contract up to $246 per cwt.

Cash fed cattle prices showed no resemblance to the Oct. 17 futures setback with fed cattle averaging $239.79 per cwt, a $6.84 per cwt increase on the prior week. 

Seasonal increases in wholesale cutout values are expected to continue at least through the end of October. This potential, along with strong packer demand to capture a large head count last week, has propped up prices for now.

Heavy lifting ahead for cutout values

The typical October beef market was marked by a strong swing in carcass cutout values as a lull in demand follows Labor Day, sending cutout values to a seasonal low beginning in October.

The turnaround happens quickly, with cutout values in early October two percent below the year’s annual average. By month’s end, prices averaged one percent above the annual average for the last three years.

In order for this pattern to repeat in 2025, the comprehensive cutout would need to gain $10 per cwt in the next 10 days. This would be a fairly large lift, but not out of the question. 

One factor to bear in mind is 2025 wholesale carcass prices have varied widely within a range of $87 per cwt. This compares to a much tighter average trading range of just $25 per cwt in the prior three years. 

This year’s comprehensive cutout values are averaging 16 percent higher than last year. Therefore, a three percent shift means a larger dollar value move than last year.

The above information seems less closely tied to potential fed cattle prices this season since a significant disconnect exists between cutout values and fed cattle values. 

Packers have, after all, run deep in the red for many months this year. Narrower margin losses do however encourage larger harvest levels.

A look at individual beef cuts and seasonal price trends for the fourth quarter reveals a few impactful cuts will shoulder the load toward higher prices. It’s evident ribeyes and tenderloins come into focus for the holidays. 

Even so, the steep uptrend began in August for these items, leaving seemingly less upward lift available. Most would agree, despite current price levels 20 to 30 percent higher than a year ago, new record-high prices are in the cards for early December.

Strip loins have continued to be sought after as the cheaper steak and roast item substitute for the holidays. Yet their growing popularity is holding strip loin prices on a higher plane this season. 

A few other items with impressive price points include shoulder clods and briskets, the latter of which are supported on smaller head counts and processer demand ahead of corned beef season.

A final optimistic note for cattlemen is the widening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Prime cutout price spread above USDA Choice – the latest spread is $57 per cwt. 

This bolstered average Prime grid premiums to $22.42 per cwt earlier this month and comes at a time when Prime carcass production is seeing an uptick. 

Nebraska takes the prize among the largest packing states as feeders in the region are delivering 14.6 percent Prime carcasses to packers, a big move from the 10 percent level seen the same week last year. 

Kansas and Texas grade trends are similarly impressive, with Kansas up to 9.7 percent and Texas closing the gap at eight percent Prime.

Paul Dykstra is the director of supply management and analysis at CAB. He can be reached at pdykstra@certifiedangusbeef.com.