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Cattle futures closed lower ahead of the USDA Cattle on Feed report, with analysts expecting higher placements from drought-driven feeder movement. A union-related lockout at the Cargill plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado, added pressure.
Cash trade was about 30,000 head Thursday, with live steers at $258-261.
A packing plant lockout reduces slaughter capacity and slows fed cattle marketings, which weighs on cash and futures prices. Higher expected placements also add to feedlot supplies, adding bearish pressure on feeder cattle.
wlj.netCharles WallaceMay 22, 2026After 29 past bearish logistics events, Live Cattle moved a median -0.3% over 5 sessions (38% higher; middle half -2.0% to +0.5%), and -3.7% over 20.
After 20 past bearish logistics events, Feeder Cattle moved a median +1.3% over 5 sessions (60% higher; middle half -0.7% to +2.0%), and +2.1% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
Futures fell on expected higher placements from drought-driven feeder movement and the Cargill Fort Morgan lockout, which threatens processing demand and weighs on feeder values.
