Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael
Business & Finance
About
Whether you trade cattle once a year or every day, Cattle Current with Wes Ishmael helps you stay in the market with a daily morning snapshot of the previous day's market action and news shaping the market ahead. Cattle market highlights and commentary include: market news; cash calf and feeder cattle price trends at auction; relevant futures prices and trends; cash fed cattle prices; overview of the cash grain market; trends in major Equity indexes. Stay in the market.
Episodes
- Cattle Current Podcast—May 11, 2026
Cattle futures experienced a downturn, with Live Cattle down an average of $1.33 and Feeder Cattle down $2.43, excluding spot May. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade showed increases in FOB live prices and dressed delivered prices in several…
- Cattle Current Podcast—May 8, 2026
Cattle futures closed lower on May 8, 2026, although off session lows. Live Cattle futures fell an average of $3.25 and Feeder Cattle futures dropped an average of $5.87. Cash fed cattle trade experienced active demand, with prices showing…
- Cattle Current Podcast—May 7, 2026
Cattle futures closed mixed to higher on May 7, 2026, with support from bullish outside markets. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive, and boxed beef cutout values decreased. Grain and Soybean futures trended lower.
- Cattle Current Podcast—May 6, 2026
Cattle futures experienced a rise on May 6, 2026, attributed to strong fundamentals and favorable outside market conditions. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light, but prices were steady to higher, and the Choice boxed beef cutout val…
- Cattle Current Podcast—May 5, 2026
Cattle futures closed lower, with Live Cattle down $1.84 and Feeder Cattle down $4.60 on average. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light, but prices increased last week. Choice boxed beef cutout value rose $2.45.
- Cattle Current Podcast—May 4, 2026
Cattle futures declined on May 4, 2026, after a week of gains. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade saw price increases across regions. Choice boxed beef prices were down, while select prices also decreased. Cattle slaughter figures were highe…
- Cattle Current Podcast—May 1, 2026
Cattle futures closed mixed to higher on May 1, 2026, with support from higher cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures saw a range of outcomes, while Feeder Cattle futures increased. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive.
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 28, 2026
Cattle futures increased on Monday, with Live Cattle futures averaging $3.11 higher and Feeder Cattle futures averaging $5.49 higher. The cash fed cattle trade was inactive, and prices from the previous week showed a decrease.
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 27, 2026
Cattle futures closed higher on Friday, with Live Cattle up $1.62 and Feeder Cattle up $2.83. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited, with FOB live prices $2 lower week-to-week. Choice boxed beef cutout value increased, while estimat…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 24, 2026
Cattle futures closed mostly higher on April 24, 2026, despite a strike at the Cargill beef packing plant. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate, with prices for FOB live and dressed delivered cattle seeing a decrease.
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 23, 2026
Cattle futures experienced a technical correction, closing lower on Wednesday. Live Cattle futures averaged 56¢ lower, while Feeder Cattle futures showed mixed results. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light, with some price decreases…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 21, 2026
Cattle futures saw mixed trading influenced by the Cattle on Feed report and external market conditions. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light, with prices showing regional variations. Choice boxed beef cutout value increased, while s…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 20, 2026
Cattle futures declined for the third consecutive session, influenced by potential border reopening news and the Cattle on Feed report. Live Cattle futures closed lower, as did Feeder Cattle futures. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade varied…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 17, 2026
Cattle futures saw losses on Thursday, with Live Cattle down $2.21 and Feeder Cattle down $3.71 on average. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited, with some FOB trades reported at $248/cwt. Choice boxed beef cutout value decreased b…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 16, 2026
Cattle futures were lower on April 16, 2026, influenced by rumors of Mexican feeder cattle imports and potential profit-taking before the Cattle on Feed report. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade saw limited activity with prices around $248/…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 15, 2026
Cattle futures saw gains on April 15, 2026, with Live Cattle up an average of $1.47 and Feeder Cattle up an average of $1.65. The cash fed cattle market was inactive, following higher prices from the previous week. Choice boxed beef cutout…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 14, 2026
On April 14, 2026, cattle futures were mixed but mostly higher, with Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle futures seeing gains. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive, while prices for FOB live and dressed delivered cattle were higher in m…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 13, 2026
Cattle futures saw gains, with Live Cattle averaging a 96¢ increase and Feeder Cattle $1.98 higher, driven by steady cash fed cattle prices. The report details trade activity, boxed beef values, slaughter numbers, and grain market movement…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 10, 2026
Cattle futures traded higher on Wednesday, influenced by stronger external markets and expectations of steady to stronger cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures gained an average of $1.04, and Feeder Cattle futures increased by $1.28.…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 9, 2026
Cattle futures rose cautiously on Wednesday, with Live Cattle futures averaging 85¢ higher and Feeder Cattle futures averaging $1.38 higher, influenced by falling oil prices and international events.
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 8, 2026
This episode reviews the cattle market for the week ending April 8, 2026, noting inactive trade and price changes in fed cattle, boxed beef, and futures. Market impacts from external factors like President Trump's threats against Iran are…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 6, 2026
The Cattle Current Market Update for April 6, 2026, reports increased fed cattle prices in both the Southern and Northern Plains, despite sluggish wholesale beef values. Weekly cattle slaughter was up from the previous week but down year-o…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 3, 2026
Negotiated cash fed cattle prices increased significantly on April 3 2026, with gains in both Northern and Southern markets. Choice and Select boxed beef cutout values decreased. Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle futures experienced increases,…
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 2, 2026
Cattle futures gained on Wednesday, with Live Cattle futures averaging 50¢ higher and Feeder Cattle futures averaging $2.05 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive. Choice boxed beef cutout value decreased.
- Cattle Current Podcast—April 1, 2026
Cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday, driven by positive outside markets and increased wholesale beef values. The cash fed cattle market remained inactive, while Choice boxed beef cutout value saw a notable increase.
- Cattle Current Podcast-March 31, 2026
Cattle futures increased on Monday, driven by late Friday's higher negotiated cash fed cattle trade in the Southern Plains and stronger wholesale beef prices. Live Cattle futures averaged $1.15 higher, and Feeder Cattle futures averaged $2…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 30, 2026
Cattle futures saw gains on Friday, influenced by stable cash fed cattle prices and a positive Hogs and Pigs report. Live Cattle futures increased by an average of $2.87, while Feeder Cattle futures saw an average increase of $5.93.
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 27, 2026
Cattle futures closed higher on Thursday, March 27, 2026, with Live Cattle futures up 81¢ and Feeder Cattle futures up $1.56, supported by steady negotiated cash fed cattle trade. Choice boxed beef cutout value decreased by $1.84 to $389.8…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 26, 2026
Cattle futures fell on March 26, 2026, due to a significant decrease in Choice wholesale beef values. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive, and grain futures saw gains.
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 25, 2026
Cattle futures saw gains on Tuesday, March 25, 2026, with Live Cattle and Feeder Cattle futures closing higher. Boxed beef values also increased. Grain futures experienced mixed results, influenced by rising crude oil prices.
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 24, 2026
Cattle futures saw gains on Monday, driven by bullish outside markets and despite a higher-than-expected Cattle on Feed report. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light, with prices remaining mostly steady.
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 23, 2026
Cattle futures closed higher on March 23, 2026, with steady cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures averaged $1.34 higher and Feeder Cattle futures averaged $2.60 higher for the day. Weekly slaughter estimates were down year-over-year,…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 20, 2026
Cattle futures ended lower on Thursday, influenced by bearish external markets driven by escalating energy prices and uncertainty related to the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Live Cattle futures averaged $2.25 lower, and Feeder Cattle future…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 19, 2026
Live Cattle futures increased due to expectations of higher cash fed cattle prices, while Feeder Cattle futures fluctuated. Analysts predict a slight decrease in the March 1 on-feed inventory, with February placements steady year-over-year…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 16, 2026
This episode provides a market update on cattle futures, negotiated cash fed trade, and beef cutout values for the week of March 16, 2026. It also covers performance in grain futures and provides year-to-date cattle slaughter and beef prod…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 13, 2026
Cattle futures saw gains on Thursday, influenced by rising wholesale beef values and cash premiums. Live Cattle futures averaged $1.40 higher, with some back contracts lower. Feeder Cattle futures averaged 61¢ higher, though spot March and…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 12, 2026
Cattle futures fell on March 12, 2026, with Live Cattle down $1.97 and Feeder Cattle down $5.19. Negotiated cash fed cattle prices decreased, but choice boxed beef cutout value rose. Grain and soybean futures increased, influenced by oil p…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 11, 2026
On March 11, 2026, cattle futures saw gains, with Live Cattle up $2.49 and Feeder Cattle up $3.27, driven by declining crude oil prices and increased wholesale beef values. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited, and boxed beef cutou…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 10, 2026
Cattle futures experienced a significant decline on March 10, 2026, impacted by factors including reduced cash fed cattle prices, a temporary halt in operations at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado, and rising crude oil prices. Despite th…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 9, 2026
Cattle futures experienced a sharp decline on Friday, influenced by broader market trends and a decrease in negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Additionally, a labor dispute at a JBS plant could lead to a strike starting March 16.
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 6, 2026
Cattle futures saw mixed results on March 6, with Live Cattle higher and Feeder Cattle lower. The cash fed cattle market was inactive, and choice boxed beef cutout value decreased. Grain and Soybean futures experienced gains.
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 5, 2026
Cattle futures experienced a rally on Wednesday, driven by increased wholesale beef values and positive market signals. Live Cattle futures closed an average of $4.11 higher, while Feeder Cattle futures were up $6.96 on average. The cash f…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 4, 2026
On March 4, 2026, cattle futures largely maintained previous gains despite initial pressure. Live Cattle futures increased, while Feeder Cattle futures were mixed. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive, with prices reported across…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 3, 2026
On March 3, 2026, cattle futures experienced early pressure but trended higher, with Live Cattle futures closing mixed and Feeder Cattle futures mostly higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive, and boxed beef cutout values saw…
- Cattle Current Podcast—March 2, 2026
Cattle futures decreased on March 2, 2026, influenced by worries about a JBS plant strike, reduced cash fed cattle prices, and profit-taking. Live Cattle futures averaged $3.49 lower, while Feeder Cattle futures averaged $7.51 lower.
- Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 27, 2026
Cattle futures decreased on February 27, 2026, influenced by potential labor strikes at a JBS plant and softer cash cattle prices. Live Cattle futures closed lower, and Feeder Cattle futures remained unchanged. Boxed beef cutout values sho…
- Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 26, 2026
Cattle futures saw gains on Wednesday, influenced by rising wholesale beef prices. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade remained inactive, while grain and soybean futures experienced mixed movements.
- Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 25, 2026
Cattle futures increased on Tuesday, driven by higher wholesale beef prices, with Live Cattle futures ending higher and Feeder Cattle futures mixed. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade remained inactive. Wholesale Choice boxed beef values saw…
- Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 24, 2026
Cattle futures closed lower on Monday due to bearish outside markets and potential strike concerns at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive, while Choice and Select boxed beef cutout values incre…
- Cattle Current Podcast—Feb. 23, 2026
Cattle futures declined on February 23, 2026, due to factors including cash fed cattle trade, the Cattle on Feed report, and a potential strike at a JBS plant. Live Cattle futures averaged $1.35 lower, and Feeder Cattle futures averaged $2…