Cattle futures fall as screwworm cases climb in Texas - CME
Hog futures fall for third session as pork carcass price slips
9 June 2026
1 minute read
By: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures closed lower on Monday as US officials confirmed three additional cases of New World screwworm, raising fears of waning consumer demand for beef and speculative long liquidation, Reuters reported, citing traders.
The new screwworm findings raised the total number of cases of the flesh-eating parasite to five since the first domestic infestation in six decades was found in a Texas calf last week.
"No matter what you want to say about it, the screwworm in the United States - the perception is not positive," said Don Roose, president of Iowa-based US Commodities. "It's obvious we don't have it under control yet," Roose said.
Beef demand has remained robust despite historically high prices, but it remains unclear if consumer behaviour would change if cases of screwworm within US borders increase.
CME August live cattle settled on Monday down 4.925 cents, or 2%, at 236.725 cents per pound, and August feeder cattle ended down 3.200 cents, or 0.9%, at 350.700 cents per pound.
Some attributed Monday's market slide to selling by speculators. Managed funds hold a sizable net long position in CME live cattle futures, leaving the market prone to bouts of long liquidation.
"This appears more likely to be a liquidation of managed money length than any actual fundamental impact," Mike Castle, senior commodities analyst with StoneX, said in a note to clients.
Screwworm is treatable and does not affect the beef itself, Castle noted. "However, it does raise production costs for ranchers already struggling to rebuild the domestic beef herd," Castle said.
CME lean hog futures ended lower for a third straight session, with the July contract down 1.425 cents at 97.375 cents per pound.
The US Department of Agriculture priced pork carcasses late on Monday at $98.46 per hundredweight, down $2.72 from Friday.
