# Live cattle futures firm as packer margins turn negative - CME
						 | The Cattle Site

> Live cattle futures firmed on Tuesday as beef packer margins fell negative for the first time in years, with packers losing $14.35 per head. Slaughter was about 128,000 head, up from 120,000 a year earlier. Traders said tightening cattle numbers favour feedlots, while consumer resistance to high beef prices capped gains.

- Date: 2022-10-11 · published 2022-10-11T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/39288-live-cattle-futures-firm-as-packer-margins-turn-negative-cme-the-cattle-site
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Negative packer margins signal tight cattle supply and may force packers to cut slaughter, which supports live and feeder cattle prices. Weak consumer demand for beef limits how far those prices can rise.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- thecattlesite.com: https://www.thecattlesite.com/news/live-cattle-futures-firm-as-packer-margins-turn-negative

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