Chicago cattle and hog futures made modest gains on Friday after the USDA released its first World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) since the the U.S. government shut down on October 1.
Most-active February live cattle futures rose by 0.575 cents to close at 219.525 cents a pound. December contracts settled at 219.150 cents a pound, up 0.150 cents.
Most-traded January feeder cattle futures closed at 320.550 cents per pound, up 2.100 cents. March contracts were up by 1.575 cents a pound at 313.350 cents.
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Choice boxed beef was valued at $370.73 per cwt, down $2.84 in the USDA’s afternoon report. Select beef fell by $0.79 to $354.24 per cwt.
The USDA lowered its forecast for 2025 red meat and poultry production from its September numbers, including lower beef, pork and turkey production offset partially by higher broiler production.
Expected beef production in 2026 was lowered based on reduced steer and heifer slaughter with slower fed cattle marketings expected into the first half of the year. Pork production was also reduced on expectations of lower hog supplies.
The USDA noted that, due to the government shutdown, it was missing some data sources for November’s WASDE.
Most-active December lean hog futures closed at 78.500 cents per pound, up 0.425 cents. February contracts settled at 79.375 cents, up 0.525 cents.
Pork carcass cutout value sat at $97.22 per cwt in the USDA’s afternoon report, up $1.96.
