DAILY CATTLE MARKET BRIEFING
February 14, 2026
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: Moderately Bearish (4/10)
- Packers and feeders both experiencing losses
- Plant closures creating market uncertainty
- Heavy carcass weights and declining slaughter volumes
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS:
- Live cattle: North $245-246, South $246-249 ($2-5 higher)
- Choice cutout: $364.47 (down $0.37)
- Select cutout: $363.42 (up $0.39)
- Feeder cattle: $15-25 higher at Oklahoma markets
- Carcass weights: 952 lbs (+32 lbs YOY)
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
a) Cargill announcing closure of Milwaukee meat processing facility by May 31, affecting 221 workers
b) Slaughter volumes down 21,000 head YOY at 541,000 head
c) Quality grade declined 0.1% to 88.5%, with Prime cuts seeing increased retail discounting
4. OUTLOOK:
Ranchers should prepare for:
- Continued pressure on packer margins limiting upside
- Regional supply chain adjustments from plant closures
- Strong replacement costs squeezing profitability
- Current breakeven projections showing $17.42/cwt losses
- Potential improvement in beef demand as spring approaches
Key Action Point: Consider timing of cattle sales carefully as market adjusts to reduced processing capacity. Watch for opportunities in forward contracting if basis levels improve, though current futures prices discourage forward pricing.
February 14, 2026
1. MARKET SENTIMENT: Moderately Bearish (4/10)
- Packers and feeders both experiencing losses
- Plant closures creating market uncertainty
- Heavy carcass weights and declining slaughter volumes
2. KEY PRICE TRENDS:
- Live cattle: North $245-246, South $246-249 ($2-5 higher)
- Choice cutout: $364.47 (down $0.37)
- Select cutout: $363.42 (up $0.39)
- Feeder cattle: $15-25 higher at Oklahoma markets
- Carcass weights: 952 lbs (+32 lbs YOY)
3. TOP 3 NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
a) Cargill announcing closure of Milwaukee meat processing facility by May 31, affecting 221 workers
b) Slaughter volumes down 21,000 head YOY at 541,000 head
c) Quality grade declined 0.1% to 88.5%, with Prime cuts seeing increased retail discounting
4. OUTLOOK:
Ranchers should prepare for:
- Continued pressure on packer margins limiting upside
- Regional supply chain adjustments from plant closures
- Strong replacement costs squeezing profitability
- Current breakeven projections showing $17.42/cwt losses
- Potential improvement in beef demand as spring approaches
Key Action Point: Consider timing of cattle sales carefully as market adjusts to reduced processing capacity. Watch for opportunities in forward contracting if basis levels improve, though current futures prices discourage forward pricing.
For more detailed information or specific market data, please contact your local extension office or market analyst.