DAILY CATTLE MARKET BRIEFING
December 19, 2025
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: Bearish (3/10)
- Markets absorbing major structural changes with Tyson Lexington closure
- Plant capacity reductions outweighing tight cattle supplies
- Regional price pressure expected, particularly in Nebraska
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS:
- Live cattle futures trading lower, recovering slightly at close
- Cash fed cattle prices $2-7 lower across regions
- Nebraska seeing steeper declines ($10-20 lower on feeders)
- Choice boxed beef steady at $357.28 (+$1.19)
- Select cutout down at $343.97 (-$2.46)
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
- Tyson Foods closing Lexington, NE beef plant (5,000 head/day capacity) January 20
- JBS announcing closure of Riverside, CA value-added facility February 2
- Plant capacity utilization running below 85% nationally due to tight supplies
4. OUTLOOK:
Ranchers should expect:
- Continued near-term price pressure, particularly in Nebraska region
- Increased transportation costs as cattle require longer hauls
- Structural shift in processing capacity that could last years
- Some offset from new smaller plants coming online, but total capacity remains reduced
- Need to adjust marketing plans around reduced regional processing options
December 19, 2025
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: Bearish (3/10)
- Markets absorbing major structural changes with Tyson Lexington closure
- Plant capacity reductions outweighing tight cattle supplies
- Regional price pressure expected, particularly in Nebraska
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS:
- Live cattle futures trading lower, recovering slightly at close
- Cash fed cattle prices $2-7 lower across regions
- Nebraska seeing steeper declines ($10-20 lower on feeders)
- Choice boxed beef steady at $357.28 (+$1.19)
- Select cutout down at $343.97 (-$2.46)
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
- Tyson Foods closing Lexington, NE beef plant (5,000 head/day capacity) January 20
- JBS announcing closure of Riverside, CA value-added facility February 2
- Plant capacity utilization running below 85% nationally due to tight supplies
4. OUTLOOK:
Ranchers should expect:
- Continued near-term price pressure, particularly in Nebraska region
- Increased transportation costs as cattle require longer hauls
- Structural shift in processing capacity that could last years
- Some offset from new smaller plants coming online, but total capacity remains reduced
- Need to adjust marketing plans around reduced regional processing options
For more detailed information or specific market data, please contact your local extension office or market analyst.