LIVESTOCK COMMENTS: In reality, live cattle futures do not represent the price of finished cattle in today’s market, but it does act as a proxy for directional price movement. This trend is likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: The top two 4-weight steer sales in Missouri history also rank among the highest nationally. Callaway Livestock set the all-time U.S. record with 16 head at 406 lbs selling for $524.00/cwt on April 28, 2025. Joplin Regional followed with 15 head at 441 lbs bringing $500.00/cwt on May 19, 2025, tied for the fourth-highest price ever recorded
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Texas floods leave at least 51 dead, 27 girls missing as rescuers search devastated landscape (@AP)
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U.S. CATTLE REPORT: 🔥 Cash Trade Steady To $1 Lower; Boxed Beef Takes Big Step Back On Thursday, Down $6.74 From Last Friday (lowest since 6/18) 🔥
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA TECHNICALS (August Live Cattle): Volatility metrics suggest a stable yet potentially breakout-prone setup. The 20-day average true range (ATR) sits at 3.062, reflecting moderate price swings and room for daily volatility to expand without dislodging trend support
CLARA Technicals
CLARA LIVE: Huss Livestock Market in Kearney, NE, hosted an outstanding sale on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, setting multiple all-time barn records across several weight classes. Leading the way was a draft of 14 head at 508 lbs that brought $441.00/cwt—the highest 5-weight sale ever at the barn.
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CLARA LIVE: Coffeyville Stockyards (North Town) in Coffeyville, KS, holds three of the top ten all-time 7-weight steer prices in Kansas, including the two highest ever recorded. On June 18, 2025, the barn sold 28 head at 703 lbs for $360.00/cwt and 23 head at 727 lbs for $358.00/cwt, setting new state records for the weight class
CLARA LIVE
U.S. drought coverage stands at 48.67%, down slightly from 49.31% last week and up from 47.26% a year ago. Heavy rainfall improved conditions in parts of the South, but central and south-central Texas remained dry. In the Central Plains, rainfall exceeding 8 inches in Grand Island, Nebraska, and over 5 inches in eastern South Dakota led to significant flash flooding and tornadoes, particularly on June 28.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
Total open interest in Live Cattle futures declined by 727 contracts on Thursday, settling at 385,416—now 30,850 contracts below the 2025 high of 416,266 set on June 5. August Live Cattle futures, the front month, gained $1.60 to close at $214.05.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: The three largest steer strings sold at Sioux Falls Regional Livestock on Wednesday included 40 head weighing 1,492 lbs at $234.00/cwt, 22 head at 1,568 lbs also at $234.00/cwt, and 17 head weighing 1,519 lbs that brought $227.50/cwt
CLARA LIVE
CATTLE ON FEED: The all-time highest cattle on feed inventories in Kansas were 2.67 million head on November 1, 2001; 2.64 million on December 1, 2001; and 2.61 million on March 1, 2006. The June 1, 2025 inventory totaled 2.35 million head, up 60,000 from May’s 2.29 million
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
Cattle trade on Thursday remained limited, with only a few reported purchases in Kansas at $225.00—insufficient to establish a market trend. The most recent established trade in Kansas and the Texas Panhandle occurred Wednesday at $224.00. In Nebraska, Wednesday's market saw live sales ranging from $230.00 to $232.00 (#cattletrade)
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: Flint Hills Stockyards in Saint Marys, KS, holds two state records for 10-weight steer prices, both set in June 2025. On June 10th, 14 head weighing 1,020 lbs brought $289.00/cwt—the second-highest 10-weight sale ever recorded in Kansas. One week later, on June 17th, 54 head at 1,036 lbs sold for $282.85/cwt, ranking sixth all-time in the state
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CLARA LIVE: The top two 9-weight steer sales at OKC West in El Reno, OK, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, featured 60 head at 906 lbs selling for $309.00/cwt and 116 head at 902 lbs bringing $304.00/cwt. The $309.00 sale now ranks as the highest 9-weight price ever recorded at OKC West, while the $304.00 sale stands as the sixth-highest all-time at the barn.
CLARA LIVE
CLARA LIVE: The top 10 highest prices ever paid nationally for 8-weight steers all occurred in June, underscoring the strength of early summer demand. Bassett Livestock Auction in Bassett, NE, accounts for three of those record-setting sales, including the two highest of all time: 36 head at 802 lbs bringing $339.50/cwt and 71 head at 819 lbs selling for $339.00/cwt, both on June 25, 2025
CLARA LIVE
The U.S. cattle on feed inventory totaled 11.44 million head on June 1, up 66,000 from May’s 11.38 million. Texas led with 2.63 million head, followed by Nebraska at 2.56 million and Kansas at 2.35 million. Together, these three states accounted for 68% of the national total.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
BEEF EXPORTS: Beef sales for export of 11,400 MT for 2025 were down 19 percent from the previous week and 9 percent from the prior 4-week average
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
NATIONAL DROUGHT MONITOR: Over the past week, scattered heavy rains fell over parts of the central Great Plains and Upper Midwest. Rain amounts were especially heavy in parts of Nebraska and Minnesota
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, federally inspected cattle slaughter totaled 115,000 head, up from 105,000 the previous week and 6,319 head on the same day a year ago. Week-to-date slaughter reached 475,000 head, compared to 452,000 last week and 362,036 last year. Year-to-date cattle slaughter stands at 15,051,781 head, down 5.6% from 15,937,909 at this point in 2024.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
Boxed beef took a notable step back ahead of the July 4th holiday, with the Choice cutout falling $5.11 on Thursday to $389.75/cwt and Select down $1.87 to $378.44/cwt. That brings the total decline since Friday to $6.74, marking the lowest Choice value since June 18th. The Choice/Select spread narrowed to $11.31, and total volume came in at 103 loads.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire