Boxed beef prices continued to firm on June 18, with the Choice cutout rising $2.36 to $388.87/cwt and Select edging up $0.20 to $372.74/cwt, bringing the Choice/Select spread to $16.13. This marks the eighth consecutive day of gains for Choice, which has increased $23.79 over that time. Primal values were broadly higher, with Chuck, Round, Loin, Brisket, Plate, and Flank all setting new record highs for 2025. Rib also increased to $541.77. Total loads came in at 90.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, federally inspected cattle slaughter totaled 113,000 head, up 3,000 from the previous week’s 110,000 but 7,187 below the same day a year ago, which recorded 120,187 head. Week-to-date slaughter reached 334,000 head, compared to 341,000 last week and 356,901 during the same week last year. Year-to-date cattle slaughter stands at 13,790,724 head, reflecting a 6.2% decrease from 14,706,777 head at this point in 2024
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
Futures Find Support (THE BEEF)... Most CME cattle futures made new lows for the move today but held key moving averages, finding support after a $10 plus correction in most active August LC in the last six trading sessions. Yesterday’s close was the lowest since June 4. Most contracts months are now perched between their respective 10 and 40-day moving averages
CLARA: Cattle Barometer
CLARA LIVE: On June 18, 2025, OKC West (El Reno, OK) recorded two standout 10-weight steer sales that now rank among the barn’s all-time best. A draft of 265 head weighing 1,005 lbs brought an impressive $289.50/cwt, setting a new all-time record for the barn. Another lot of 55 head at 1,006 lbs sold for $278.00/cwt, earning the number four spot in OKC West’s historical rankings.
CLARA LIVE
Open interest in the Live Cattle contract declined by 1,394 contracts on Tuesday, settling at 382,319, marking the seventh drop in the past eight sessions. This figure now stands 33,947 contracts below the 2025 peak of 416,266 set on June 5. June Live Cattle futures finished the day lower at $223.25, down $3.775
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: 🔥 9s & 10s Shine Bright – Six 100+ Head Strings of 9-Wt Steers Top $300; Four National Records Set for 10-Wts 🔥
CLARA LIVE
U.S. CATTLE REPORT: 🔥 Ranking Of States With The Most Beef Cows; Boxed Beef on Historic Run: Choice Up $21.43 Over 7-Day Rally 🔥
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: Futures dropped sharply Tuesday, with August CME Feeder Cattle down $6.875 to $303.35/cwt. In contrast, cash held firm: the RTI 7-Day Feeder Index rose $0.91 to $312.88, and the National Steer Price gained $1.32 to $313.48. Futures now sit $9–$10 below the cash market.
CLARA LIVE
CLARA LIVE: 🎉 Heavyweight feeder cattle set new national records Tuesday, with three standout 10-weight sales now ranking 2nd, 4th, and 6th all-time. Leading was 150 head from Kimball, SD at 1,002 lbs bringing $291.00, followed by 95 head from Beaver County, OK at $290.25, and 118 head from Kimball at 1,004 lbs selling for $289.00
CLARA LIVE
CLARA LIVE: 🎉 Beaver County Stockyards in Beaver, OK kicked off Tuesday, June 17, 2025, with exceptional strength, posting their top three all-time 9-weight steer sales in barn history. The standout lots included 127 head at 930 lbs and 83 head at 903 lbs—both selling for $306.00/cwt—along with 41 head at 944 lbs bringing $302.50/cwt.
CLARA LIVE
CLARA LIVE: Bluegrass Stockyards Lexington made history on Tuesday morning, June 17, 2025, by posting two of the highest-priced feeder cattle sales ever recorded at the barn. An offering of 830 lb steers sold for $324.95/cwt, setting a new all-time high for 8-weight steers, while 908 lb steers brought $309.80/cwt, establishing the barn’s new record for 9-weights
CLARA LIVE
Early Tuesday trading saw modest pullbacks in both live and feeder cattle futures. August 2025 live cattle opened at $215.025/cwt, down $0.525, while feeder cattle for the same month posted a sharper decline, settling at $308.90/cwt, off $1.325. The corn market, however, showed early strength with July 2025 futures gaining 2 cents to $4.3675/bu. (futures)
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: 🔥 Record-Breaking 9-Weights at Joplin; SFRL Named Superior Steel Sales Stickout Sale of the Day 🔥
CLARA LIVE
Guess your own Cattle On Feed report: June 2025 (Matt Dabrowski)
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
U.S. pasture conditions were rated 46% good to excellent as of this week, up 3 points from the previous week but slightly below 48% from the same time last year. Regional ratings varied widely: Nebraska improved to 25% (up from 15%), Missouri stood out at 88%, Kansas was at 63%, and Texas climbed to 54% from 47% last week
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
WTI crude oil futures extended their rally on Tuesday morning, trading at $73.10, up $1.33 on the day. Since closing at $60.79 on May 30, the market has surged $12.31 over the past two and a half weeks. Notable gains include a $3.17 increase to $68.015 on June 11, followed by a $4.94 jump to $72.98 on June 13.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
As of June 15, 2025, 94% of the U.S. corn crop had emerged, up from 87% the previous week and ahead of 92% a year ago. In Iowa, emergence reached 97%, rising from 92% the previous week and topping last year’s 94%. Nationally, 72% of the corn crop was rated in good to excellent condition, up 1 percentage point from the previous week and matching the rating from this time last year.
US Cattle Report by National Beef Wire
CLARA LIVE: On Monday, CME August Feeder Cattle futures closed at $310.225/cwt, gaining $3.80 on the day, while the cash-based RTI 7-Day Feeder Index settled slightly higher at $311.12/cwt, down $3.59. Despite the futures rally, the cash index maintained a modest premium of $0.90, suggesting continued strength in the physical market. However, the National Steer Price declined sharply by $8.18 to $308.98/cwt, placing it below both the futures and index levels 🔥
CLARA LIVE
CLARA LIVE: Sioux Falls Regional Livestock (Worthing, SD) is having a strong Monday sale, posting the top two highest prices so far today for 8-, 9-, and 10-weight steers. Leading the way, 82 head at 801 lbs sold for $336.00, while 60 head at 922 lbs brought $308.50, both marking standout sales in their respective weight classes as of early Monday trade
CLARA LIVE