Cattle futures rebound on strong beef prices - CME
Hog futures edge higher on improving market sentiment
11 March 2026
1 minute read
By: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures rallied on Tuesday, after two sessions of steep declines, on technical buying and as sharply lower crude oil prices eased some concerns about the economy, reported Reuters.
Surging beef prices amid a slowdown in production, and improving packer margins, offered additional support after futures touched their lowest point since mid-December on Monday.
Feeder cattle followed live cattle higher after notching a two-month low in the prior session, with a downturn in corn prices providing an additional tailwind.
"We continue to see boxed beef drive higher... I think that helped with the sentiment there, along with the overall shift in outside markets with the wild ride we've had in energies," said Matthew Wiegand, a broker with FuturesOne.
Cash market trading has yet to develop this week, but strong beef prices and improving margins could motivate packers to offer better prices for cattle following several weeks of lower sales, he said.
"If you get enough beef movement, it'll give them the incentive to spend up instead of trying to hold the line," Wiegand said.
The choice boxed beef value jumped $3.38 on Tuesday to $397.67 per hundredweight, the highest since mid-September, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Select cuts were up $3.15 at $386.77 per cwt.
Lower-than-normal slaughter rates and a possible strike next week at a JBS packing plant in Colorado suggested beef prices would remain strong, analysts said.
The average beef packer margin was estimated at a negative $45.50 per head on Tuesday, up from losses of $183.70 per head a week ago, according to HedgersEdge.
CME April live cattle gained 2.225 cents to close at 232.375 cents per pound, partially filling a chart gap left after Monday's sharply lower trade. April feeders filled in Monday's chart gap and settled at 349.675 cents per pound, up 3.125 cents on the day.
Lean hog futures firmed, with April futures closing 1.250 cents higher at 96.075 cents per pound.
