Live cattle futures closed the Friday session rallying $1.75 to $2.85 into the final bell, as October was $6.72 higher for the week. Cash trade picked up on Friday, with sales noted $1-6 higher at $222-225. The Friday morning Fed Cattle Exchange showed $225 sales on 45 of the 952 head offered, with $223-224 bids on other lots. Feeder cattle futures posted gains of $3.85 to $5.40 across the board on Friday, as September futures were $13 higher for the week The CME Feeder Cattle Index was back up $2.26 on September 10 to $331.22.

Export Sales data from USDA showed beef sales for 2026 at just 8,581 MT for the week ending on 9/3. That was an 8-week low. Shipments were tallied at 11,521 MT, which was a 4-week low.

Commitment of Traders data from CFTC showed managed money in live cattle futures and options trimming just 664 contracts from their net long in the week ending on September 3, taking it to 47,250 contracts. In feeder cattle futures and options, spec traders cut 727 contracts from their net long, with a net position at 6,781 contracts on Tuesday.

Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were mixed in the Friday afternoon report, with the Chc/Sel widening to $22.81. Choice boxes were down $2.43 at $375.94, with Select $1.07 higher to $353.13. USDA estimated the weekly Federally inspected cattle slaughter at 505,000 head. That is well shy of the same non-holiday week last year and 21,000 head below last week.

Oct 26 Live Cattle  closed at $219.675, up $1.850,

Dec 26 Live Cattle  closed at $222.225, up $2.625,

Feb 27 Live Cattle  closed at $224.000, up $2.850,

Sep 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $337.825, up $5.250,

Oct 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $332.500, up $4.950,

Nov 26 Feeder Cattle  closed at $328.175, up $5.400,