DAILY CATTLE MARKET BRIEFING
December 27, 2025
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: Moderately Bearish (4/10)
- Record high quality grades (87% Choice/Prime) amid declining margins
- Producer pessimism for 2026 due to negative political/economic conditions
- Empty feedlot pens spreading from south to north as operators avoid high-priced replacements
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS:
- Cash cattle: $229-230/cwt, up $1 from Tuesday
- Choice cutout: $351.21, down $3.41
- Select cutout: $343.80, down $1.95
- Carcass weights: 952 lbs, down 2 lbs week/week but 34 lbs above last year
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
- Major USDA staff exodus (20% departed) under new administration threatens agricultural oversight
- Holiday-shortened slaughter volumes (587k head) down 9k from previous week
- Price reporting system showing severe deterioration with only 2 of 5 regions reporting
4. OUTLOOK:
Ranchers should prepare for:
- Continued tight supplies and high prices but compressed margins
- Possible Mexican border reopening for cattle imports by year-end
- Improved drought conditions supporting herd rebuilding, though recovery timeline uncertain
- Ongoing price discovery challenges due to broken mandatory reporting system
December 27, 2025
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: Moderately Bearish (4/10)
- Record high quality grades (87% Choice/Prime) amid declining margins
- Producer pessimism for 2026 due to negative political/economic conditions
- Empty feedlot pens spreading from south to north as operators avoid high-priced replacements
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS:
- Cash cattle: $229-230/cwt, up $1 from Tuesday
- Choice cutout: $351.21, down $3.41
- Select cutout: $343.80, down $1.95
- Carcass weights: 952 lbs, down 2 lbs week/week but 34 lbs above last year
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
- Major USDA staff exodus (20% departed) under new administration threatens agricultural oversight
- Holiday-shortened slaughter volumes (587k head) down 9k from previous week
- Price reporting system showing severe deterioration with only 2 of 5 regions reporting
4. OUTLOOK:
Ranchers should prepare for:
- Continued tight supplies and high prices but compressed margins
- Possible Mexican border reopening for cattle imports by year-end
- Improved drought conditions supporting herd rebuilding, though recovery timeline uncertain
- Ongoing price discovery challenges due to broken mandatory reporting system
For more detailed information or specific market data, please contact your local extension office or market analyst.