The Cattle Market Guys Podcast
Your source for cattle market insights and analysis
Recording what happens on your own place:
LATEST EPISODE
Episode 77: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 9-22-2026
Published: September 22, 2026 | Duration: 10:29
Episode 77 Transcript
Brock: Good morning and welcome back to Cattle Market Guys. It's Tuesday, September 22nd, and we've got a market that's giving everybody whiplash this week. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the numbers on the five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers, current price is three hundred ninety-seven dollars and fifty cents per hundredweight. That's up fourteen dollars and eighty-five cents week over week, but month over month it's actually down seventy-eight cents.
Jim: Well, that's a market that can't make up its mind, Brock.
Brock: That's a fair way to put it. <break time="0.3s"/> Now on the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class, current price is three hundred fifty-seven dollars and sixty-two cents per hundredweight, up eight dollars and forty-five cents week over week, but down three dollars and sixteen cents on the month. So both weight classes showing that same pattern — strong weekly bounce, but still soft compared to where we were a month ago. The one-week forecast on those lighter calves has them pushing up toward four hundred three dollars per hundredweight, while the four-week outlook pulls back to three hundred sixty-six dollars and fifty-five cents.
Jim: So we're due for another dip after this little rally.
Brock: According to the forecast models, yeah, that's the read. And the article context backs that up. The Cattle Site reported futures fell for a third straight session on September 19th, tied to weaker packer margins and some technical selling. But then by September 22nd, futures rallied on lower-than-expected placement numbers ahead of the USDA feedlot report. Cattlerange's daily index confirms that whiplash too — down zero point seven three percent on the 18th, then up two point nine six percent by the 21st.
Jim: Sounds like a horse that won't settle in the chute — buckin' one direction, then the other, before you even get the gate open.
Brock: That's about right. <break time="0.3s"/> Volume context on both…
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Episode 76: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 9-18-2026
Published: September 18, 2026 | Duration: 10:31
Episode 76 Transcript
Brock: Alright, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, sitting here with Jim, and it's September eighteenth, so let's get into what happened this week. <break time="0.5s"/> Starting with our market snapshot, we've got two weight classes to look at, and there's some real divergence here worth talking about. For the five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers, current price sits at three hundred eighty-two dollars and sixty-five cents per hundredweight, and that's up twelve dollars and twelve cents week-over-week. <break time="0.3s"/> But zoom out to the month-over-month comparison, and we're down twenty-eight dollars and ninety-one cents from where we were back on August ninth.
Jim: So we're bouncing off a bottom, is that what you're telling me?
Brock: That's exactly what the data suggests. <break time="0.3s"/> Now for the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class, current price is three hundred forty-nine dollars and seventeen cents per hundredweight, up nine dollars and two cents from last week, but down twenty-six dollars and thirty-one cents month-over-month. So both weight classes are seeing this pattern of a nice weekly bounce inside a longer monthly decline. <break time="0.3s"/> The forecast models have the five hundred weights hitting three hundred ninety-nine dollars and fifty-six cents next week, then settling back to three hundred seventy-two dollars and nine cents by the four-week mark. The six hundred weights look more stable, forecast at three hundred forty-eight dollars and forty-seven cents next week and three hundred forty-seven dollars and eighty-nine cents in four weeks.
Jim: Well, that lighter end sure looks like it's got more room to fall once that bounce wears off.
Brock: That's a fair read. <break time="0.3s"/> And this ties right into what we're seeing in the futures market this week, which has been genuinely choppy. The Cattle Site reported futures climbing to one-month highs on Wednesday, then easing off those highs Thursday, and…
Episode 75: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 9-15-2026
Published: September 15, 2026 | Duration: 11:30
Episode 75 Transcript
Brock: Welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, everybody. It's Tuesday, September 15th, and we've got a lot to unpack today. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the numbers on the five hundred to five forty-nine weight class steers, we're sitting at three hundred sixty-four dollars and seventy-one cents per hundredweight as of the week of September sixth. That's down two dollars and nineteen cents from the prior week, and when you zoom out to the monthly view, we're down forty-six dollars and eighty-five cents from where we were back in early August.
Jim: Forty-six dollars in a month? That's not a correction, Brock, that's a landslide.
Brock: It's a significant pullback, no question. <break time="0.3s"/> Now on the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class, current price is three hundred thirty-three dollars and sixty-six cents per hundredweight, down three dollars and five cents week over week, and down forty-one dollars and eighty-two cents month over month. So both weight classes are trending the same direction, just at different velocities. <break time="0.3s"/> The forecast models have the lighter weights easing further to three hundred fifty-seven dollars and eighty-nine cents next week, and the heavier weights sliding to three hundred twenty-eight dollars and eight cents. Volume context on both classes is listed as average, so this isn't a case of thin trading distorting the numbers—this looks like real market softening.
Jim: Well, I tell you, it's like standing in July heat waiting on a blue norther. You know it's coming, you just don't know if it's gonna knock you flat or just cool things off a little.
Brock: That's actually a pretty fitting way to put it, because the four-week forecast does show some stabilization—three hundred fifty-seven dollars and nine cents for the lighter calves, three hundred thirty-one dollars and twenty-seven cents for the heavier ones. So we're not looking at a freefall, more like a leveling out after this…
Episode 74: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 9-11-2026
Published: September 11, 2026 | Duration: 10:55
Episode 74 Transcript
Brock: Good morning and welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, and as always, that's Jim over there looking like he's already had three cups of coffee.
Jim: Four, actually. It's Friday.
Brock: Fair enough. <break time="0.3s"/> Let's get right into it because we've got a lot of ground to cover. Starting with the market snapshot, and there's some real movement here we need to talk about. <break time="0.5s"/> Looking at the 500 to 549 pound steers, current price sits at three hundred seventy-two dollars and eighty-one cents per hundredweight. That's down four dollars and sixty-eight cents from the prior week, and when you zoom out to the month-over-month comparison, we're looking at a drop of forty-eight dollars and eighty-six cents. That's a significant correction in just thirty days.
Jim: Whew, that's a lot of ground lost in just a month.
Brock: It is. <break time="0.3s"/> Now the 600 to 649 pound steers held up a little better, relatively speaking. Current price there is three hundred forty-one dollars and eighty-two cents per hundredweight, only down one dollar and forty-six cents week-over-week. But the month-over-month tells a similar story, down forty-one dollars and twenty-one cents from where we sat back on August 2nd. So both weight classes are correcting hard off those summer highs.
Jim: I tell you, Brock, watching these numbers slide is like sitting ringside at a sale barn when the bidding stalls out. Everybody's still got their hand halfway up, but nobody wants to be the one who pulls the trigger first.
Brock: That's a pretty accurate description of what we're seeing in the futures market too. <break time="0.3s"/> According to the data, we've got the forecast for that 500 to 549 weight class showing a slight bounce to three hundred seventy-four dollars and sixty-three cents per hundredweight over the next week, but then the four-week outlook drops to three hundred fifty-seven dollars and seventy-seven cents. So there's a little near-term relief…
Episode 73: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 9-8-2026
Published: September 8, 2026 | Duration: 10:22
Episode 73 Transcript
Brock: Good morning, folks, and welcome back to Cattle Market Guys. It's September eighth, and we've got a lot to cover, so let's get right into the numbers. <break time="0.5s"/> Looking at the latest snapshot, five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers are sitting at three hundred seventy-two dollars and eighty-one cents per hundredweight. That's down four dollars and sixty-eight cents from the prior week, and if you zoom out to the monthly view, we're down forty-eight dollars and eighty-six cents from a month ago.
Jim: That's a rough month for them lighter calves.
Brock: It is. <break time="0.3s"/> Now on the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class, we're at three hundred forty-one dollars and eighty-two cents per hundredweight, down just one dollar and forty-six cents week-over-week, but still down forty-one dollars and twenty-one cents on the month. So both weight classes are cooling off from that August peak, but the lighter calves are taking the bigger hit percentage-wise. According to the forecast data, the five hundred to five forty-nine weights are actually projected to bounce back slightly next week to three hundred seventy-four dollars and sixty-three cents, while the four-week outlook has them settling around three hundred fifty-seven dollars and seventy-seven cents.
Jim: So we're looking at a bit of a dip before things maybe firm back up.
Brock: That's the read. <break time="0.3s"/> The six hundred weight class forecast shows a similar pattern—three hundred thirty-nine dollars and forty cents next week, drifting down to three hundred twenty-seven dollars and ninety-two cents by the four-week mark. What's interesting is the article context here. We've got one piece from The Cattle Site noting tight beef supplies and resilient demand are actually supporting higher beef prices at the retail level, even as cattle futures got pressured by weak cash trade earlier in the week. Then by Friday, we saw futures dip again ahead of the Labor Day weekend,…
Episode 72: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 9-4-2026
Published: September 4, 2026 | Duration: 10:51
Episode 72 Transcript
Brock: Well, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, everybody. It's September fourth, and we've got a lot of ground to cover on this Friday wrap. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the numbers, because they're not pretty. According to the data, five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers are sitting at three hundred eighty-two dollars and seventy-six cents per hundredweight, and that's down eight dollars and twenty-two cents from last week. <break time="0.3s"/> But the real story is the month-over-month move—we're down twenty-four dollars and seventy-seven cents from where we were back on July twenty-sixth.
Jim: Man, that's a gut punch for anybody holding cattle right now.
Brock: It really is. <break time="0.3s"/> And the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class isn't faring much better. Current price there is three hundred fifty dollars and sixty cents per hundredweight, down three dollars and forty-nine cents week-over-week, and down seventeen dollars and forty-two cents from a month ago. Looking at the forecast, the lighter weights are expected to hold roughly steady next week at three hundred eighty-two dollars and eighty-six cents, but that four-week outlook has them sliding to three hundred sixty-seven dollars and seven cents. The heavier weights look even softer—forecast has them dropping to three hundred forty-four dollars and twenty-one cents next week and continuing down to three hundred twenty-seven dollars and eighty-four cents by the four-week mark.
Jim: Well, that's not much to smile about, is it?
Brock: No, it isn't. <break time="0.3s"/> The articles are backing that up too. The Cattle Site reported futures falling on demand fears combined with a grain rally, and there's chatter about temporary easing of beef tariffs weighing on sentiment. We did see a brief uptick around September second as traders adjusted positions ahead of the August live cattle contract expiring, but that bounce didn't hold. Overall, it's a market trying to find its footing…
Episode 71: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 9-1-2026
Published: September 1, 2026 | Duration: 11:02
Episode 71 Transcript
Brock: Welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, everybody. It's Tuesday, September 1st, and we've got a lot to cover today. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. According to the data, five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers are sitting at three hundred eighty-two dollars and seventy-six cents per hundredweight, that's down eight dollars and twenty-two cents from last week, and down twenty-four dollars and seventy-seven cents from a month ago.
Jim: That's a pretty good slide for one month, Brock.
Brock: It is. <break time="0.3s"/> And the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class is showing similar softness, three hundred fifty dollars and sixty cents per hundredweight, down three dollars and forty-nine cents week over week, and down seventeen dollars and forty-two cents from a month ago. The forecast doesn't offer much relief either. <break time="0.3s"/> Looking at the numbers, the one-week forecast for those lighter steers is three hundred eighty-two dollars and eighty-six cents, basically flat, but the four-week outlook drops to three hundred sixty-seven dollars and seven cents. For the six hundreds, the four-week forecast is three hundred twenty-seven dollars and eighty-four cents. That's a meaningful pullback baked into the models.
Jim: Well, the market's been jumpy lately, and it feels like everybody's waiting on the next headline instead of trusting what the cash market's already telling them.
Brock: You're right about that, and it ties directly into our headlines this week. <break time="0.5s"/> The Cattle Site reported that CME live and feeder cattle futures ticked lower on news of a processing order out of Washington, combined with a grain and soy rally, some fund selling, and a stronger dollar. Just two days before that, on August 29th, futures had actually rebounded on a firmer cash market. So we're seeing real whiplash here, cash fundamentals pulling one direction, policy headlines pulling the other. Jim, does that match what you're…
Episode 70: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 8-28-2026
Published: August 28, 2026 | Duration: 9:48
Episode 70 Transcript
Brock: Well, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, everybody. It's August 28th, we're wrapping up the week, and there's a lot to get into. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the numbers on those 500 to 549 weight steers, current price sits at four hundred two dollars and ninety-four cents per hundredweight. That's down three dollars and thirty-one cents from last week, and down twenty-two dollars and forty-seven cents from a month ago.
Jim: That's a pretty steep slide for one month, Brock.
Brock: It is. <break time="0.3s"/> And the forecast doesn't show much relief either — one week out we're looking at three hundred eighty-four dollars and seventy-six cents, four weeks out three hundred eighty-seven dollars and forty-nine cents. So the model's expecting a bit of stabilization, but well off those July highs. Now on the heavier end, the 600 to 649 steers are sitting at three hundred sixty-four dollars and seven cents, down seven dollars and forty-six cents week over week, and down twenty-one dollars and twenty-three cents on the month. That one-week forecast is the real eyebrow-raiser though — three hundred thirty-seven dollars and seventy cents. That's a sharp drop from where we are today.
Jim: That's a big gap to close in seven days.
Brock: It really is, and I think it reflects just how much uncertainty is baked into this market right now. <break time="0.3s"/> The articles this week point to a few reasons why — futures fell on the Mexico border reopening, they fell again on a weak cash market, and then fell a third time on weakening consumer confidence. That's three separate down days for three separate reasons, all in the same week. Jim, you've been around long enough to see markets get spooked before — does this feel different to you?
Jim: Well, seems like it's coming at us from every direction this week — border, cash market, consumer confidence, all in the same breath.
Brock: That's a fair way to put it. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's dig…
Episode 69: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 8-25-2026
Published: August 25, 2026 | Duration: 11:34
Episode 69 Transcript
Brock: Alright, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, that's Jim, and we've got a busy one today. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the numbers for the week of August sixteenth, the 500 to 549 weight steers came in at four hundred two dollars and ninety-four cents per hundredweight. That's down three dollars and thirty-one cents from the prior week, and if you zoom out to the monthly view, we're down twenty-two dollars and forty-seven cents from four hundred twenty-five dollars and forty-one cents back in mid-July. That's a real correction happening in the lighter end of the market.
Jim: Well, that's a chunk of change disappearing in a month. <break time="0.3s"/> Reminds me of watching the gas gauge drop on an old truck with a bad fuel line.
Brock: And it's not just the lighter cattle. <break time="0.3s"/> The 600 to 649 weight steers are sitting at three hundred sixty-four dollars and seven cents, down seven dollars and forty-six cents week over week, and down twenty-one dollars and twenty-three cents from a month ago when they were at three hundred eighty-five dollars and thirty cents. According to the forecast data, the one-week outlook has that weight class dropping further to three hundred thirty-seven dollars and seventy cents, before the four-week projection shows a slight recovery to three hundred forty-six dollars and sixteen cents. So we're looking at continued softness in the near term with maybe some stabilization by mid-September.
Jim: So we ride out the dip for a few weeks and hope it levels off. Got it.
Brock: That's a fair way to put it. <break time="0.3s"/> Now, volume's been pretty average across both weight classes, so this isn't a thin-market anomaly, this is real price movement on real numbers. And I think part of what's driving this ties directly into the news that broke today, which we'll get into in the next segment. The article from The Cattle Site noted that CME live and feeder cattle futures were…
Episode 68: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 8-21-2026
Published: August 21, 2026 | Duration: 10:54
Episode 68 Transcript
Brock: Welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, joined as always by Jim, and we've got a full plate for you this Friday wrap. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's just dive right into the numbers because there's some movement worth talking about. Looking at the 500 to 549 weight steers, we're sitting at four hundred thirteen dollars and forty-five cents per hundredweight, and that's down seven dollars and eighty cents from last week. <break time="0.3s"/> Zoom out to the monthly view and it's a steeper drop, down twenty-nine dollars and thirty cents from where we were back on July 12th.
Jim: That's a pretty hard slide for a month's time.
Brock: It really is, and the heavier weights aren't escaping it either. <break time="0.3s"/> The 600 to 649 steers are at three hundred seventy-five dollars and eighty-six cents per hundredweight, down four dollars and ninety-four cents week over week, and down thirty-one dollars and fifteen cents over the past month. According to the data, volume's been average across both weight classes, so this isn't a thin-market anomaly, this is a real trend. <break time="0.3s"/> The forecast models have the 600 to 649s continuing to slide, with a one-week projection of three hundred sixty-eight dollars and ninety-seven cents, and a four-week outlook down to three hundred fifty-one dollars and thirty-eight cents.
Jim: Well, that lighter weight class sure has been getting hit too. That's the biggest drop on the board this month.
Brock: You're right, and it's worth noting the light steers, that 500 to 549 range, actually has a forecast that bounces around a bit more than the heavier weights. <break time="0.3s"/> The models show it dipping to around three hundred eighty-six dollars in two weeks before ticking back toward four hundred eleven dollars in week three. That kind of volatility tells me there's some uncertainty baked into these lighter weight projections that we don't see on the feeder side. <break time="0.3s"/> And this all lines up with…
Episode 67: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 8-18-2026
Published: August 18, 2026 | Duration: 11:05
Episode 67 Transcript
Brock: Alright, let's get into it. <break time="0.5s"/> It's Tuesday, August 18th, and the latest numbers are showing some real softness across the feeder cattle complex. <break time="0.3s"/> Looking at the 500 to 549 weight steers, we're sitting at four hundred thirteen dollars and forty-five cents per hundredweight, and that's down seven dollars and eighty cents from the prior week. Month over month, that class is down twenty-nine dollars and thirty cents from where it was back on July 12th.
Jim: That's a big move for one month, Brock. That ain't just a wobble, that's a trend.
Brock: It is, and it's showing up in the heavier weights too. <break time="0.3s"/> The 600 to 649 steers are at three hundred seventy-five dollars and eighty-six cents per hundredweight, down four dollars and ninety-four cents week over week, and down thirty-one dollars and fifteen cents compared to a month ago. According to the forecast data, that class is projected at three hundred sixty-eight dollars and ninety-seven cents next week, and if you stretch it out four weeks, we're looking at three hundred fifty-one dollars and thirty-eight cents. That's a pretty steady downward glide, not a cliff, but definitely a trend line pointing south.
Jim: Well, that's not just noise, Brock — four weeks running in the same direction is a real slide.
Brock: The articles back this up too. <break time="0.3s"/> The Cattle Site reported cattle futures hit two-and-a-half week lows on fund and technical selling, and that was echoed again just today with futures edging lower on what they're calling consumer sentiment concerns. Traders are basically questioning whether beef demand can hold up through the back half of the year. Volume's been average on both weight classes we track, so this isn't some thin, illiquid move — real money is behind this repricing.
Jim: I'll tell you, when the funds start selling on technicals instead of on cattle numbers, that's when regular producers get whipsawed the worst.
Brock:…
Episode 66: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 8-14-2026
Published: August 14, 2026 | Duration: 10:38
Episode 66 Transcript
Brock: Alright, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, joined as always by Jim, and we've got a lot of ground to cover on this Friday wrap for August fourteenth. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the numbers on those five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers, current price is four hundred seventeen dollars and fifty-five cents per hundredweight. That's up six dollars and twenty-six cents week over week, but if you zoom out a month, it's down thirty-five dollars and thirty-four cents from where we were back in early July.
Jim: That's a heck of a slide for one month, Brock.
Brock: It is, and the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class tells a similar story. <break time="0.3s"/> Current price there is three hundred seventy-eight dollars and seventy-seven cents per hundredweight, up four dollars and ninety-nine cents from last week, but down thirty-seven dollars and seventy-three cents from a month ago. So we've got short-term stabilization sitting on top of a pretty steep monthly correction. The one-week forecast for those five hundred weights actually ticks up to four hundred twenty-five dollars and seventy-one cents, but the six hundred weight forecast for next week drops to three hundred fifty-four dollars and twenty-nine cents before recovering to four hundred four dollars and seventeen cents by the four-week mark. That's a lot of chop in a short window.
Jim: Sounds like the market can't decide which way to lean.
Brock: That's a fair read. <break time="0.3s"/> And it lines up with what we're seeing in the futures space. There was an article this week noting the August live cattle contract settled two dollars and twenty-two and a half cents higher at two hundred thirty-four dollars and seventeen and a half cents per hundredweight, only to have those gains erased in a Thursday selloff tied to option expiration. Packer bids did firm up from two hundred thirty dollars to two hundred thirty-five dollars per hundredweight…
Episode 65: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 8-11-2026
Published: August 11, 2026 | Duration: 11:02
Episode 65 Transcript
Brock: Alright, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys. I'm Brock, alongside Jim, and we've got a Tuesday update that's going to keep you busy. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. According to the data, five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers came in at four hundred seventeen dollars and fifty-five cents per hundredweight for the week starting August second, and that's actually up a touch from four hundred eleven dollars and twenty-nine cents the week before. Six hundred to six forty-nine weight steers firmed up too, landing at three hundred seventy-eight dollars and seventy-seven cents, up from three hundred seventy-three dollars and seventy-eight cents.
Jim: So the lighter cattle are holding their premium and even nudging higher, Brock.
Brock: They are, and it's worth putting that in context. <break time="0.3s"/> Back on July fifth, that same five hundred to five forty-nine weight class was fetching four hundred fifty-two dollars and eighty-nine cents, so we have come off the summer highs, down about thirty-five dollars per hundredweight over the month. But the key is the slide flattened out this past week and actually ticked back up. And the national forecast agrees, with the one-week outlook sitting at four hundred twenty-five dollars and seventy-one cents for that weight class, and the four-week outlook holding right around four hundred fifteen dollars.
Jim: So we've cooled off the peak but we're leveling out, not falling off a cliff. Sounds like most Augusts I've seen.
Brock: That tracks with what the article from Beef Magazine is saying too. <break time="0.3s"/> A Texas A&M AgriLife economist is on record stating that cattle prices haven't hit the ceiling yet, based on current supply and demand fundamentals. And that's reinforced by another piece today about ground beef specifically — demand for ground beef is outpacing other cuts, and the supply of ground beef has actually decreased faster than fed beef supply overall. That's an…
Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 8-7-2026
Published: August 7, 2026 | Duration: 2:39
Episode Transcript
Brock: Welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, alongside Jim, and we've got a lot of ground to cover on this Friday wrap for August 7th. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the numbers out of the feeder cattle markets, we're seeing five hundred to five-forty-nine pound steers trading recently, but the trend line is worth noting. Back in late June, that weight class was fetching four hundred sixty-three dollars and eight cents per hundredweight, and by the week of July 26th, it had come down to four hundred eight dollars and seventy-six cents per hundredweight. <break time="0.3s"/> That's a meaningful pullback over about a month.
Jim: That's a heck of a slide for five weeks, Brock.
Brock: It is, <break time="0.3s"/> and the six hundred to six-forty-nine pound class shows a similar pattern, dropping from four hundred thirty dollars and fifty-seven cents down to three hundred seventy-six dollars and twelve cents per hundredweight over that same stretch. Now, looking at the national predictions, the models have the five hundred to five-forty-nine weight class bouncing back up toward three hundred ninety-seven dollars and four cents per hundredweight for next week, and climbing to around four hundred nineteen dollars and fifty cents per hundredweight by the three-week mark. So there's some optimism baked into those forecasts even after the recent softness.
Jim: Well, that's the market for you. Never walks in a straight line.
Brock: Exactly, <break time="0.3s"/> and the article from The Cattle Site this week backs that up. Live and feeder cattle futures actually hit three-week highs, with momentum coming from technical factors and supportive outside markets. But then just a day later we saw futures fall on demand worries tied to broader stock market weakness. So we're getting whiplash day to day, even as the underlying supply story stays tight.
Jim: Sounds like the board just can't make up its mind this week.
Brock: That's a fair way to…
Episode 66: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-31-2026
Published: July 31, 2026 | Duration: 10:57
Episode 66 Transcript
Brock: Well, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, and we've got a lot to unpack this week. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the numbers out of the feeder cattle sales, we're seeing five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers trading around four hundred nineteen dollars and eighteen cents per hundredweight, that's for the week of July nineteenth. But here's the thing, <break time="0.3s"/> that's actually down from four hundred thirty-three dollars and sixty-two cents the week before, and down further from four hundred fifty-two dollars and eighty-nine cents just three weeks ago. We're looking at a pretty clear downward trend on the lighter weights.
Jim: That's a fast slide for those little calves.
Brock: It is. <break time="0.3s"/> And it's not isolated to the lighter end either. The six hundred to six forty-nine weight steers came in at three hundred eighty-five dollars and fifty-two cents, down from four hundred one dollars and fifty cents the prior week. According to the data, futures have been sliding right alongside the cash market, front month settling around three hundred forty-six dollars and ninety-three cents, down from three hundred sixty dollars and eighty-nine cents just a few weeks back. The article from Beef Magazine confirms live cattle futures just ended a fifteen-day losing streak, so this weakness has been baked in for a while now.
Jim: Fifteen days straight, huh? <break time="0.3s"/> That's about as useful as a screen door on a submarine, watching that thing just keep sliding.
Brock: Exactly, but here's the interesting part. <break time="0.3s"/> The predictions data is showing some stabilization coming. The one-week national prediction for those five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers sits at four hundred ten dollars and thirty-two cents, and it actually climbs to four hundred thirty-one dollars and fifty-three cents by the two-week mark. So the models are calling for a bounce back after this recent softness.…
Episode 65: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 7-28-2026
Published: July 28, 2026 | Duration: 10:51
Episode 65 Transcript
Brock: Welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, sitting here with Jim, and we've got a loaded Tuesday for you on July 28th, 2026. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's get right into the numbers, because there's a lot of movement to unpack. Looking at the latest data, five hundred to five-forty-nine weight steers are trading around four hundred nineteen dollars and eighteen cents per hundredweight for the week of July 19th, and that's actually down from four hundred thirty-three dollars and sixty-two cents the week before. Meanwhile, six hundred to six hundred forty-nine weight steers came in at three hundred eighty-five dollars and fifty-two cents, also softer than the prior week's four hundred one dollars and fifty cents.
Jim: That's a pretty quick slide for two weeks, Brock.
Brock: It is, and the futures are telling the same story. <break time="0.3s"/> Front month futures dropped from three hundred fifty-two dollars and twenty-seven cents down to three hundred forty-six dollars and ninety-three cents in that same window. The Cattle Site reported feeder cattle futures hit fresh lows not seen since early June before firming up on Thursday, and then stabilized again Friday as everyone waited on that Cattle on Feed report. According to our national forecasts, the five hundred to five-forty-nine weight class is projected to bounce back to around four hundred ten dollars per hundredweight next week, then climb toward four hundred thirty-one dollars and fifty-three cents by week two. That's a pretty sharp recovery if the models hold.
Jim: Well, models are like weather forecasts out here in West Texas—about right half the time, and dead wrong the other half.
Brock: Fair point, but the volume context is worth noting too. <break time="0.3s"/> We saw average volume through most of July, but back on June 28th, volume was light with only five hundred three head sold in that five hundred to five-forty-nine bracket. That's a thin market, and thin markets can create some wild price…
Episode 64: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-24-2026
Published: July 24, 2026 | Duration: 12:46
Episode 64 Transcript
Brock: Well, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, everybody.<break time="0.3s"/> It's Friday, July 24th, and we've got a lot to cover this week because, frankly, it's been a wild one.<break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. Looking at the feeder cattle numbers, five hundred to five forty-nine weight steers came in at four hundred forty-three dollars and thirty-five cents per hundredweight last week, and that's actually down from four hundred fifty dollars and forty-one cents the week before, and down further from four hundred sixty-three dollars and eight cents back in late June. So we're seeing a pretty consistent slide in that weight class over the last month.
Jim: That's a pretty steep hill to slide down, Brock.
Brock: It is.<break time="0.3s"/> Now the six hundred to six forty-nine weight class is telling a slightly different story. Those steers actually ticked up to four hundred five dollars and twenty-one cents per hundredweight, up from four hundred thirteen dollars and forty-seven cents the week prior—wait, let me correct that, they're actually down week over week if you look at the trend, but volume was heavy, over five thousand head moved through on that four hundred five dollar print. The futures side is where it gets interesting. Front month futures have fallen from three hundred sixty-seven dollars and ninety-four cents back in late June down to three hundred fifty-two dollars and twenty-seven cents as of last week. That's a serious move in just a few weeks.
Jim: When the board moves that fast, somebody's getting an ulcer.
Brock: The article from The Cattle Site backs that up too—feeder cattle futures sagged again on CME just this week, with cash cattle trade remaining weak and that hot, humid weather across the Midwest weighing on things.<break time="0.3s"/> Now looking at the predictions, the national one-week prediction for six hundred to six forty-nine weight steers is three hundred ninety-five dollars and twelve cents per hundredweight,…
Episode 63: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-17-2026
Published: July 17, 2026 | Duration: 7:12
Episode 63 Transcript
Brock: Alright, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys — it's July 17th, and we've got a lot of ground to cover this week. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with the snapshot. According to the data, five-hundred to five-forty-nine weight steers are sitting at four hundred fifty-one dollars and twenty cents per hundredweight for the week of July fifth, and that's actually down from four hundred fifty-six dollars and fifty-three cents the week before, and down again from four hundred fifty-five dollars and ninety-three cents the week prior to that. <break time="0.3s"/> So we've got a clear three-week slide in that weight class.
Jim: That's a pretty consistent bleed for three weeks running.
Brock: It is, and the six hundred to six-forty-nine weight class is telling a different story though. <break time="0.3s"/> Those steers came in at four hundred fourteen dollars and forty-seven cents, down slightly from four hundred twenty-one dollars and eighty cents the week before. But if you look back a month to the week of June seventh, they were sitting at four hundred eleven dollars and eighty cents — so that weight class has actually gained ground over the last month, even with this recent softness. <break time="0.3s"/> Futures are the real story here though. Front month futures dropped from three hundred sixty-eight dollars and ninety-four cents back on June twenty-first to three hundred sixty dollars and eighty-nine cents this week, so the board's lost about eight bucks in less than a month.
Jim: Eight dollars might not sound like much, til you're the one holding six hundred head waiting on a contract date.
Brock: Exactly, and the articles back this up. <break time="0.3s"/> The Cattle Site reported beef prices hit their lowest since February on Monday the fifteenth, and then by Wednesday — that's yesterday — cattle futures hit their lowest close since March. Chart-driven selling, weak cash trade, sagging wholesale beef prices — it's all pointing the same direction. <break…
Episode 62: Cattle Market Guys - Tuesday Check In 7-14-2026
Published: July 14, 2026 | Duration: 9:35
Episode 62 Transcript
Brock: Good morning, and welcome back to Cattle Market Guys. It's Tuesday, July 14th, and we've got a lot of ground to cover today. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's start with where things stand right now in the cash market. According to the data, five hundred to five forty-nine pound steers came in this week at four hundred fifty-one dollars and twenty cents per hundredweight, and that's actually down from last week's four hundred fifty-six dollars and fifty-three cents. Meanwhile, six hundred to six forty-nine pound steers are sitting at four hundred fourteen dollars and forty-seven cents, which is up slightly from the four hundred twenty-one dollars and eighty cents we saw the week before. <break time="0.3s"/> Jim, what do you make of that split?
Jim: So the lighter cattle are sliding and the heavier ones are creeping up. That's a mixed bag if I ever saw one.
Brock: It really is, Jim. <break time="0.3s"/> And the futures market is telling a similar story of hesitation. The front month is at three hundred sixty dollars and eighty-nine cents, down from three hundred sixty-seven dollars and ninety-four cents just two weeks ago. The article from The Cattle Site on July 11th confirms this - cattle futures fell as post-holiday beef demand faded. Then two days later, on July 13th, we saw cash cattle prices tumble seven dollars on the week, which put even more pressure on those live cattle futures.
Jim: Seven dollars in a week will get your attention real quick.
Brock: It will. <break time="0.3s"/> And here's where it gets interesting. Despite that cash weakness, the July WASDE report released today actually raised the cattle price outlook for the third quarter of 2026, citing strong June prices as the foundation. So we've got a short-term dip butting up against a longer-term bullish revision. <break time="0.3s"/> Looking at our predictive models, the five hundred to five forty-nine weight class is forecast to bounce back to four hundred thirty-six dollars and seventy-nine…
Episode 61: Cattle Market Guys - Week Wrap Up 7-10-2026
Published: July 10, 2026 | Duration: 11:21
Episode 61 Transcript
Brock: Well, welcome back to Cattle Market Guys, I'm Brock, alongside Jim, and we've got a Friday wrap for you on July 10th. <break time="0.5s"/> Let's get right into the numbers because there's a lot to unpack this week. Looking at the six hundred to six-forty-nine weight steers, we closed out the week of June 28th at four hundred fifteen dollars and eighty-seven cents per hundredweight, and that's actually up nicely from the four hundred eleven dollars and eighty cents we saw back on June 7th. The five hundred to five-forty-nine weight class told a slightly different story though, coming in at four hundred fifty-seven dollars and thirty cents, which is actually a touch softer than the four hundred fifty-seven dollars and sixty-seven cents we saw the week prior. <break time="0.3s"/> Jim, does that lighter class softening match what you'd expect this time of year?
Jim: Lighter cattle always get twitchy first. That's just how this business works.
Brock: Exactly right, and volume tells part of that story too. <break time="0.3s"/> We saw heavy volume back on June 21st with over five thousand head moving in that heavier weight class, but last week it dropped to average volume around twenty-one hundred head. According to the national predictions, that six hundred to six-forty-nine class is expected to soften slightly over the next week to around four hundred seven dollars and twenty cents, before ticking back up toward four hundred ten dollars and eighty-six cents by week two. Meanwhile the lighter five hundred to five-forty-nine steers are projected at four hundred thirty-seven dollars and eighty cents next week, with some real strength showing up by week four at four hundred fifty-eight dollars and sixty-two cents.
Jim: That's a nice little bump, if it actually plays out that way.
Brock: It's a projection, not a guarantee, but the fundamentals support it. <break time="0.5s"/> And speaking of fundamentals, the Cattle Site had a piece this week noting that Walmart…