DAILY CATTLE MARKET BRIEFING
December 12, 2025
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: BULLISH (7/10)
- Cash cattle prices higher at $230 live in both north and south
- Tight supplies and winter weather concerns supporting prices
- Strong demand heading into holiday season despite softer wholesale beef prices
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS
- Live cattle: Feb futures up to 228.525 cents/lb, highest since Nov 4
- Cash cattle: $5 higher live at $230, $10 higher dressed at $355
- Choice boxed beef: Down $1.25 to $358.11/cwt
- Feeder cattle: Strong gains of $15-30/cwt higher for calves under 800 lbs
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS
- Major slaughter volume increase to 600,000 head, up 102,000 from previous week
- Federal Reserve cuts rates 0.25% to 3.50-3.75% range
- Merck's new screwworm treatment (EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1) receives FDA approval for Dec 20 release
4. OUTLOOK
Ranchers should expect continued price strength into year-end supported by:
- Historically tight cattle supplies with little sign of herd expansion
- Strong seasonal demand through holidays
- Mexican border remaining closed due to screwworm outbreak
- However, packer margins have turned negative at -$9.45/head
Caution warranted on:
- Softening wholesale beef prices as holiday buying wraps up
- Two upcoming holiday-shortened slaughter weeks
- Deferred futures pointing to potential profitability challenges in 2026
December 12, 2025
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: BULLISH (7/10)
- Cash cattle prices higher at $230 live in both north and south
- Tight supplies and winter weather concerns supporting prices
- Strong demand heading into holiday season despite softer wholesale beef prices
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS
- Live cattle: Feb futures up to 228.525 cents/lb, highest since Nov 4
- Cash cattle: $5 higher live at $230, $10 higher dressed at $355
- Choice boxed beef: Down $1.25 to $358.11/cwt
- Feeder cattle: Strong gains of $15-30/cwt higher for calves under 800 lbs
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS
- Major slaughter volume increase to 600,000 head, up 102,000 from previous week
- Federal Reserve cuts rates 0.25% to 3.50-3.75% range
- Merck's new screwworm treatment (EXZOLT CATTLE-CA1) receives FDA approval for Dec 20 release
4. OUTLOOK
Ranchers should expect continued price strength into year-end supported by:
- Historically tight cattle supplies with little sign of herd expansion
- Strong seasonal demand through holidays
- Mexican border remaining closed due to screwworm outbreak
- However, packer margins have turned negative at -$9.45/head
Caution warranted on:
- Softening wholesale beef prices as holiday buying wraps up
- Two upcoming holiday-shortened slaughter weeks
- Deferred futures pointing to potential profitability challenges in 2026
For more detailed information or specific market data, please contact your local extension office or market analyst.