# CFTC Data Clarifies Sell-Off in Cattle Prices

> CFTC data show recent feeder cattle selling came mainly from speculators holding short put options, not from insurance companies in USDA's Livestock Risk Protection program. February live cattle fell to a new low in early December and are down 16% from the September peak. Feeder futures are down about 20% from their peak.

- Date: 2023-12-11 · published 2023-12-11T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/32850-cftc-data-clarifies-sell-off-in-cattle-prices
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Speculative put-option liquidation rather than fundamental demand drove the sell-off, which may limit further downside if positioning clears. Continued cattle futures weakness still pressures feeder demand for feed.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Sources

- dtnpf.com: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2023/12/11/cftc-data-clarifies-sell-cattle

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.