Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael
by Wes Ishmael: cattle business analyst and journalist
Whether you trade cattle once a year or every day, Cattle Current with Wes Ishmael helps you stay in the market with a daily morning snapshot of the previous day's market action and news shaping the market ahead. Cattle market highlights and commentary include: market news; cash calf and feeder cattle price trends at auction; relevant futures prices and trends; cash fed cattle prices; overview of the cash grain market; trends in major Equity indexes. Stay in the market.
Episodes
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 30, 2026
Cattle futures were mixed to lower on Thursday with profit taking, the week’s lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices, weaker wholesale beef values and likely month-end position squaring. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 50¢ lower, except for 2¢ higher in away-Dec. Feeder...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 29, 2026
Cattle futures closed lower on Tuesday with profit taking and lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $3.38 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.52 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light on light to moderate demand...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 28, 2026
Cattle futures closed mixed on Tuesday with some potential profit taking and oversold conditions. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 48¢ lower, except for 12¢ higher in spot Oct. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 94¢ higher (7¢ to $2.70 higher), except for an average…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 27, 2026
Cattle futures closed higher, but less than many would have expected, given last week’s stronger cash fed cattle prices and the friendly Cattle on Feed report. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 78¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.04 higher. Negotiated…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 26, 2026
Cattle futures closed mostly higher Friday, ahead of the monthly Cattle on Feed report which turned out to be market friendly (see below). Live Cattle futures were an average of 28¢ higher, except for unchanged and 10¢ lower in two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.34 higher....
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 23, 2026
Cattle futures softened Thursday on likely profit taking and weaker wholesale beef prices. Depending on the projections considered, analysts peg September placements about 8-9% less year over year with September marketings down about 7% for an on-feed inventory Oct. 1 about even. Toward the…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 21, 2026
Cattle futures crawled higher Tuesday, supported by last week’s stronger negotiated cash fed cattle prices and optimism about further gains this week. Keep in mind that the monthly Cattle on Feed report is due out Friday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.39 higher.…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 20, 2026
Cattle futures continued mostly higher on Monday, led by Feeder Cattle and supported by last week’s stronger negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 22¢ higher, except for an average of 15¢ lower in the front three contracts. Feeder Cattle…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 19, 2026
Cattle futures gained on Friday, helped by stronger cash fed cattle prices and continued weakness in Corn. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.46 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 73¢ higher, except for 5¢ lower in looming Nov. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 16, 2026
Cattle futures gained on Thursday, helped by the early promise shown in cash fed cattle trade. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.77 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.78 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light demand in Nebraska...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 15, 2026
Cattle futures were mostly lower Wednesday, awaiting the week’s negotiated cash fed cattle direction. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 84¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.86 lower, except for 12¢ higher in the back contract. Negotiated cash fed cattle...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct.13, 2026
Cattle futures were mixed on Monday, mostly retaining the previous session’s strong gains. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 31¢ higher, except for unchanged to an average of 39¢ lower in the front three contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 38¢ lower....
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 12, 2026
Cattle futures rallied on Friday as Corn futures tanked on USDA’s latest production estimates (see below). Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.73 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $7.09 higher. Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $10.29 higher...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 9, 2026
Cattle futures weakened on Thursday as traders eyed softer wholesale beef values, volatile outside markets and waited for the weeks cash fed cattle price direction. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 85¢ lower, except for 30¢ higher in spot Oct. Feeder Cattle futures were an...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 8, 2026
Cattle futures took a breather on Wednesday with likely profit taking from the previous day’s rally. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 41¢ lower, except for an average of 22¢ higher in three contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.22 lower. Negotiated cash…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 7, 2026
Cattle futures took a strong step higher Tuesday, buoyed by outside markets and the early-week increase in Choice wholesale beef values. There could also have been some knee-jerk reaction to President Trump’s executive order to waive penalties and defer taxes for highway use of red-dye diesel for...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 6, 2026
Cattle futures continued lower on Monday, with last week’s wobbly cash fed cattle prices and lower wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.34 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.96 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 5, 2026
Cattle futures weakened Friday, with sharply lower week-end wholesale beef prices and wobbly negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.05 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.74 lower. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 2, 2026
Cattle futures held their own on Thursday, despite sluggish negotiated cash fed cattle trade and a step lower in wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 58¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.84 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Oct. 1, 2026
Cattle futures gained Wednesday, helped by lower Corn futures. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.90 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.58 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was limited on light demand in the North through Wednesday afternoon,...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 30, 2026
Cattle futures were mixed to mainly higher on Tuesday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 11¢ lower to an average of 28¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.62 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on light demand in Nebraska to mostly...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 29, 2026
Cattle futures softened Monday, pressured by bearish outside markets, along with month-end and quarter-end positioning. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 80¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.42 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 28, 2026
Cattle futures closed higher Friday and for the week with strength from tight numbers, higher cash feeder cattle prices and stronger wholesale beef values. Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.28 higher, except for 20¢ lower in waning spot Oct. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 24, 2026
Cattle futures boomeranged back Wednesday, helped by oversold conditions and lower corn futures prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.31 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $6.02 higher, except for 87¢ lower in waning spot Sep. Negotiated cash fed cattle...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 23, 2026
Cattle futures pulled back Tuesday, with some likely profit taking from the previous session’s strong gains. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.90 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.94 lower, except unchanged in the front contract. Negotiated cash fed…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 22, 2026
Cattle futures stepped confidently higher Monday, buoyed by Friday’s Cattle on Feed report with placements 9.2% less year over year and 6.5% less than pre-report estimates with snug supplies ahead (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $5.06 higher. Feeder Cattle...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 21, 2026
Cattle futures sputtered Friday and ended the week lower with apparent squeamishness about the Cattle on Feed report that was published after the session and wonderment about the impact of next week’s resumption of Mexican feeder cattle imports through the port of entry at Santa Teresa, New…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 18, 2026
Cattle futures were lower again Thursday, with steady to lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices and likely positioning ahead of Friday’s Cattle on Feed report. Depending on the estimates considered, analysts expect August placements to be down about 3%, August marketing to be about 4% less and…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 17, 2026
Cattle futures softened further Wednesday, pressured by bearish outside markets, and likely profit taking as traders await the week’s negotiated cash fed cattle direction. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.79 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.10 lower....
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 16, 2026
Cattle futures were lower Tuesday with likely profit taking from the recent gains. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.70 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.43 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle was inactive on light demand in the North through Tuesday...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 14, 2026
Cattle futures ended Friday and the week higher, supported by the step higher in negotiated cash fed cattle prices and lower grain futures. Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.33 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.56 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 11, 2026
Cattle futures strengthened on Thursday, supported by stronger cash feeder cattle prices and thoughts that negotiated cash fed cattle prices could follow suit. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 84¢ higher, except for unchanged in two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 10, 2026
Cattle futures mainly held or extended gains on Wednesday, in the face of another day of bearishness in outside markets. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 51¢ lower, except for an average of 12¢ higher in two contracts. They were an average of $3.46 higher Wednesday. Feeder...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 7-8, 2026
Cattle futures closed mixed Friday on caution ahead of the three-day weekend. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 99¢ lower, except for an average of 11¢ higher in the back three contracts. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 60¢ higher, except for an average of 85¢ lower in the front...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 4. 2026
Cattle futures finally bounced higher Thursday, supported by oversold conditions and some renewed strength in cash prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $3.32 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $6.50 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle was light on light...
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Cattle Current Daily—Sept. 3, 2026
Cattle futures continued trying to carve a bottom Wednesday, with pressure including steady to lower cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.38 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 38¢ lower to an average of 67¢ higher....
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 2, 2026
Cattle futures were lower Tuesday amid struggling cash fed cattle prices and higher feed costs. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.14 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.42 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in the...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Sept. 1, 2026
Cattle futures overcame more government intervention in the cattle business (see below) on Monday to eke out gains with oversold conditions. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 73¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 25¢ higher except for an average of $1.07…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 31, 2026
Cattle futures were unable to build on recent gains Friday, bogged down by more political rhetoric. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 92¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.68 lower. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.88 lower, except for an...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 28, 2026
Cattle futures continued higher Thursday, boosting hopes that the bottom had been etched. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.79 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.42 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in the North...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 27, 2026
Cattle futures firmed and mostly gained Wednesday, supported by oversold conditions. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 46¢ higher, except for an average of 42¢ lower in two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.11 higher, except for an average of 94¢ lower…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 26, 2026
Cattle futures continued to unravel Tuesday with follow-through pressure and another significant step lower in negotiated cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.76 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.73 lower, except for 22¢ higher in…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 25, 2026
Cattle futures opened higher Monday, supported by the lower July feedlot placements in Friday’s Cattle on Feed report but then turned negative with pressure including last week’s lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices and negative psychology surrounding Monday’s re-opening of the port of entry…
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 24, 2026
Cattle futures were able to fade early pressure from President Trump’s announcement to waive tariffs for 90 days on imported beef products for ground beef (see below). Live Cattle futures closed an average of 78¢ higher, except for an average of 19¢ lower in the front two contracts. Feeder Cattle...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 20, 2026
Cattle futures lost ground Wednesday with pressure including lower early negotiated cash fed cattle prices and surging corn prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.13 lower, except for 5¢ higher and unchanged at the back. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.64...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 19, 2026
Cattle futures were mostly higher Tuesday supported by stronger early-week wholesale beef values and perhaps some lift on news that Cargill’s packing facility at Ft. Morgan, Colo., will resume operations. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 72¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 18, 2026
Cattle futures tried to firm Monday after last week’s bearish news but were mostly slightly lower. Live Cattle futures were an average of 13¢ lower, except for an average of 48¢ higher in two nearby contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were mixed from an average of 74¢ lower to an average of 34¢...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 17, 2026
Cattle futures continued lower Friday but closed off session lows. Pressure included lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices for the week and response to Tyson’s Thursday announcement that the company was ending operation of its beef packing facility in Joslin, Ill., its case ready facility in...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 14, 2026
Cattle futures were lower again, pressured by weaker early cash fed cattle prices and perhaps prescience about news from Tyson later in the day that it was shuttering its packing facility in Joslin, Ill., ending production at its case ready facility in Eagle Mountain, Utah and seeking a buyer for...
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Cattle Current Podcast—Aug. 13, 2026
Cattle futures stepped lower Wednesday, pressured in part the continued decline in open interest. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.48 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.93 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from light on moderate demand in...
About this show
Whether you trade cattle once a year or every day, Cattle Current with Wes Ishmael helps you stay in the market with a daily morning snapshot of the previous day's market action and news shaping the market ahead. Cattle market highlights and commentary include: market news; cash calf and feeder cattle price trends at auction; relevant futures prices and trends; cash fed cattle prices; overview of the cash grain market; trends in major Equity indexes. Stay in the market.
Hosted by
Wes Ishmael: cattle business analyst and journalist