U.S. livestock: Cattle mixed as report shows inventory down

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Published: May 23, 2025

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(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Chicago cattle futures were mixed on the eve of the Memorial Day weekend as this month’s cattle on feed report showed a decline in inventory. Hogs fell.

Most active August live cattle contracts closed at 210.450 cents a pound, down 0.050 cents. June live cattle settled at 215.800 cents, up 0.175 cents per pound.

Most active feeder cattle futures closed at 300.375 cents a pound, up 0.600 cents. September feeders gained 0.725 cents to settle at 299.350 cents a pound.

Choice boxed beef gained $0.58 per cwt to end the day at $361.55, the USDA said in its afternoon report. Select boxed beef closed at $351.32, up $2.37 per cwt.

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Total U.S. cattle and calves on feed totaled 11.4 million head on May 1, two per cent below May 1, 2024. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a 3.2 per cent decline.

Placements in feedlots in April were down three per cent from a year ago. Marketings of fed cattle were also down three per cent.

Most active July lean hog futures settled at 101.550 cents a pound, down 0.500 cents. August lean hogs closed at 101.275 cents per pound, down 0.725 cents.

Pork carcass cutout value sat at $101.46 per cwt in the USDA’s afternoon report. That’s a gain of $1.19 per cwt.

—Prices reported in USD

About the author

Geralyn Wichers

Geralyn Wichers

Digital editor, news and national affairs

Geralyn graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2019 and launched directly into agricultural journalism with the Manitoba Co-operator. Her enterprising, colourful reporting has earned awards such as the Dick Beamish award for current affairs feature writing and a Canadian Online Publishing Award, and in 2023 she represented Canada in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists' Alltech Young Leaders Program. Geralyn is a co-host of the Armchair Anabaptist podcast, cat lover, and thrift store connoisseur.

 

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