ShayLe Stewart

With the cattle complex off to an aggressive start for the new week, cattlemen are crossing their fingers that prices will remain strong as some set out to market their 2025 calves.

Steers weighing between 500 and 740 pounds traded $38 to $66 per hundredweight (cwt) more recently on the Corn Belt Classic video auction, compared to prices seen in 2024.

Packers have slowly been able to build up supply, which is hindering the fed cash cattle market trade. However, thus far, that has not affected the feeder cattle market as buyers continue to buy calves at record-high prices.

Record high cattle prices come with more volatility. You'll never outthink the cattle market, but you can have a plan to deal better with it.

May placements are expected to be down in Friday's June 1 USDA Cattle on Feed report, which means the trade is likely to view the report as bullish, according to DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart.

When the cattle market's two biggest factors (its technical and fundamental indicators) work against each other, then turmoil, volatility and uneasiness should be expected.

What cattlemen will keenly watch this week is Superior's Corn Belt Classic Sale, and the Cattle on Feed Report on Friday.

Following last week's unbelievable surge in both the fed cash cattle market and the futures complex, traders are hopeful support will allow the market to trade higher again this week.

Be aware of what the contracts are legally allowed to do, and how that could affect your commodity assets.

USDA's May 1 Cattle on Feed report on Friday is expected to be neutral to somewhat bullish, with pre-report estimates predicting all three major categories to be lighter than a year ago.

Holiday-shortened weeks always throw a kink into the market's normal trading rhythm; but with some technical and fundamental pushback at hand, the market will likely remain hesitant to move much higher until after the Memorial Day...

With packers having built up some supply during the last three weeks, and with the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, it's likely fed cash cattle prices could trade steady this week.

Although it was exciting to see the cattle contracts trade sharply higher amid bullish news headlines, market participants can't forget the gaps in the chart will eventually be filled in.

If you look at the cow-herd data over multiple cycle spans, you'll see time and time again, while the cycle does typically ebb and flow, the build back following a period of liquidation usually doesn't surpass the previous cycle's peak.

Packers were able to buy up some supply last week in the fed cash cattle market. But if they continue to run reduced kill schedules, how are boxed beef prices going to fare?

Last week, the cattle complex performed nearly flawlessly as fed cash cattle prices reached all-time highs, feeder cattle prices were higher, and the futures contracts ran to new contract highs.

With turnout season nearing, prices at feeder cattle sales have been sharply higher in the countryside over the last two weeks.

Beef demand may be exceptional and could even increase seasonally through the Memorial Day weekend, but it's going to take a lot of market support for traders to remain steadfast and focused amid any more trade chatter that...

The wide range of estimates for March placements in Thursday's April 1 USDA Cattle on Feed report could raise some concern in the markets, according to DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart.

Whether it's because of tariff concerns, consumers wanting to tighten their spending budgets, or simply because Easter isn't a major beef dish holiday, pinpointing the exact reason why boxed beef prices were pressured last week...