# CattleFax analysts look for leverage to return to cattle feeders | TheFencePost.com

> CattleFax analysts reported record March beef exports, up 32.9 million pounds year over year, driven mainly by China. Slaughter capacity remains constrained by COVID-19 distancing, absenteeism and worker shortages, and the leverage ratio sits well below the five-year average.

- Date: 2021-05-28 · published 2021-05-28T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/4967-cattlefax-analysts-look-for-leverage-to-return-to-cattle-feeders-thefencepost
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Strong exports and capacity limits keep packer leverage high and feeders' returns weak, so fed cattle prices are expected to stay supported. Reduced Australian slaughter also boosts US beef demand in Japan.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2018-03-09 | [RCALF USA calls for tariff on livestock imports \| TheFencePost.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65945-rcalf-usa-calls-for-tariff-on-livestock-imports-thefencepost-com.md) | +0.0% | -6.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2017-05-26 | [China offers to import more from US in return for easing of export curbs](https://feedsoft.ai/events/70889-china-offers-to-import-more-from-us-in-return-for-and-8202-easing-and-8202-of.md) | +0.4% | -3.7% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-01 | [Soybeans Rally as China Finally Buys, Will They Buy Corn? Cattle Surge on Higher Cash, Cutouts](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18826-soybeans-rally-as-china-finally-buys-will-they-buy-corn-cattle-surge-on-higher.md) | -4.9% | -11.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-08-25 | [Flesh-eating screwworms, beef price surge collide as Mexico resumes cattle exports to U.S. - Los Angeles Times](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17846-flesh-eating-screwworms-beef-price-surge-collide-as-mexico-resumes-cattle.md) | -1.1% | -0.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2021-06-21 | [Cow-Calf Corner: beef imports lower in 2021; conditions are ideal for significant fly populations on cattle; feed additives and medicated feeds - Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46526-cow-calf-corner-beef-imports-lower-in-2021-conditions-are-ideal-for-significant.md) | +1.9% | +0.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-11-03 | [Feeder market softens as demand for cattle weakens \| The Western Producer](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7820-feeder-market-softens-as-demand-for-cattle-weakens-the-western-producer.md) | -3.7% | -5.3% |
| FCATTLE | 2020-02-14 | [Cattle and beef trade: a look back and a look ahead \| Western Livestock Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54545-cattle-and-beef-trade-a-look-back-and-a-look-ahead-western-livestock-journal.md) | +2.8% | -17.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-10-24 | [Fears of Mexico border reopening cap a brutal week for the cattle market - Pro Farmer](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22526-fears-of-mexico-border-reopening-cap-a-brutal-week-for-the-cattle-market-pro.md) | -4.4% | -6.2% |

## Sources

- thefencepost.com: https://www.thefencepost.com/news/cattlefax-analysts-look-for-leverage-to-return-to-cattle-feeders/

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