- LIMITED ACCESS -
If you missed yesterday’s market recap, upgrade to Premium for daily coverage and stay informed on the ups and downs of the cattle market.
“Either you run the day or the day runs you.”
— Jim Rohn
MONDAY MEME
MARKET REPORT
WEATHER 20/20 REPORT
AGRICULTURE
USDA EXPANDS SCREWWORM DEFENSE EFFORT
FOREST SERVICE CLOSURES RAISE CONCERNS
FARMERS TURN TO AI TOOLS
FINANCE
DAILY REPORTING
CATTLE FUTURES SLIDE FROM HIGHS
CORN FINDS SUPPORT, WHEAT CLIMBS
HORMUZ REOPENS, MARKETS REACT FAST
Introducing CattleChannel: A New Way to CattleUSA
Simpler times😂
Did you see a meme that made you laugh this week? DM @cattleusa.media on Instagram to share with the community!
+ follow @cattleusa.media & help us get to 2,000 followers!
APRIL 17
On Feed April 1 - 99%
Placed during March - 93%
Marketed During March - 94%
United States Cattle on Feed Down 1 Percent, (NASS, USDA, April 17, 2026)
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on April 1, 2026. The inventory was 1 percent below April 1, 2025. The inventory included 7.26 million steers and steer calves, down slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.32 million head, down 1 percent from 2025.
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.71 million head, 7 percent below 2025. Net placements were 1.66 million head. Placements were the second lowest for March since the series began in 1996. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 250,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 435,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 474,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 170,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million head, 6 percent below 2025. Marketings were the second lowest for March since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 50,000 head during March, 9 percent below 2025.
Close
377.67
Previous
379.09
Change
1.42 ▼
Friday, April 17
Farmers and Ranchers Livestock
4,748 Salina, KS
Thursday
| Feeder Steers - Medium & Large #1 | Feeder Heifers - Medium & Large #1 | ||
| 500-600 lbs | 490.00-530.00 | 400-500 lbs | 470.00-527.50 |
| 600-700 lbs | 416.00-477.00 | 500-600 lbs | 425.00-470.00 |
| 700-800 lbs | 383.00-429.00 | 600-700 lbs | 372.00-416.00 |
| 800-900 lbs | 347.50-374.00 | 700-800 lbs | 343.00-368.00 |
| 900-1000 lbs | 329.50-350.00 | 800-900 lbs | 320.00-358.00 |
Winter Livestock
3,563 Pratt, KS
Thursday
| Feeder Steers - Medium & Large #1 | Feeder Heifers - Medium & Large #1 | ||
| 500-600 lbs | 471.00-489.00 | 500-600 lbs | 395.00-460.00 |
| 600-700 lbs | 381.00-457.00 | 600-700 lbs | 373.00-402.00 |
| 700-800 lbs | 338.50-392.00 | 700-800 lbs | 316.00-342.00 |
| 800-900 lbs | 335.00-375.50 | 800-900 lbs | 310.00-341.00 |
| 900-1000 lbs | 308.00-349.00 | 900-1000 lbs | 305.00-319.00 |
Woodward Livestock
3,029 Woodward, OK
Thursday
| Feeder Steers - Medium & Large #1 | Feeder Heifers - Medium & Large #1 | ||
| 600-700 lbs | 419.00-434.00 | 600-700 lbs | 379.00-411.00 |
| 700-800 lbs | 358.00-403.00 | 700-800 lbs | 334.50-347.00 |
| 800-900 lbs | 348.75-364.00 | 800-900 lbs | 324.50-340.00 |
| 900-1000 lbs | 322.50-347.00 | 900-1000 lbs | 297.00 |
| 1000-1100 lbs | 316.50-319.75 | 1000-1100 lbs | 299.00 |
CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE LIVESTOCK FUTURES SETTLEMENT
Friday
| Live Cattle | Change | Feeder Cattle | Change | ||
| Apr | 249.950 | 0.350 ▼ | Apr | 371.325 | 1.750 ▼ |
| Jun | 247.350 | 0.275 ▼ | May | 365.275 | 1.825 ▼ |
| Aug | 242.825 | 0.250 ▼ | Aug | 365.675 | 2.850 ▼ |
CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE GRAIN FUTURES SETTLEMENTS
Friday
| Corn | Change | Soy Beans | Change | ||
| May | 4.4875 | 0.0025 ▲ | May | 11.6725 | 0.0350 ▲ |
| Jul | 4.5750 | 0.0025 ▼ | Jul | 11.8300 | 0.0250 ▲ |
| Sep | 4.6125 | 0.0025 ▲ | Aug | 11.7650 | 0.0150 ▲ |
KANSAS CITY BOARD OF TRADE
Friday
| Wheat | Change | ||||
| May | 6.3675 | 0.0600 ▼ | |||
| Jul | 6.5000 | 0.0500 ▼ | |||
| Sep | 6.6175 | 0.0450 ▼ | |||
ESTIMATED DAILY CATTLE SLAUGHTER
| Friday | 77,000 | Thursday |
| Week Ago (est) | 83,000 | Steer & Heifer: 84,000 |
| Year Ago (act) | 91,000 | Cow & Bull: 20,000 |
| Wk To Date (est) | 506,000 | |
| Last Week (est) | 508,000 | |
| Last Year (est) | 567,000 |
Friday, April 17
5 AREA WEEKLY ACCUMULATED WEIGHTED AVG CATTLE PRICE
| As of 10:00 am | Head Count | Avg Weight | Avg Price |
| Live Steer | 13,015 | 1,571 | 248.08 |
| Live Heifer | 9,906 | 1,401 | 248.21 |
| Dressed Steer | 10,512 | 1,026 | 388.28 |
| Dressed Heifer | 4,791 | 897 | 388.02 |
DAILY ESTIMATED CUTOUT VALUES
| 600-900# | Choice | Select | Choice/Select Spread |
| Current Cutout Values: | 381.06 | 376.60 | 4.46 |
| Change from prior day: | -0.51▼ | -1.88▼ |
DAILY CATTLE SLAUGHTER
| Friday | 77,000 | Thursday |
| Week Ago | 83,000 | Steer & Heifer: 84,000 |
| Year Ago (act) | 90,821 | Cow & Bull: 20,000 |
| Week To Date | 506,000 | |
| Same Period Last Week | 508,000 | |
| Same Period Last Year | 567,107 |
Today Lauren and John Campbell revisit the ongoing situation at the U.S.–Mexico border, as screw worm concerns, shifting headlines, and new information continue to keep this topic front and center in the cattle industry. Recent false reports around a potential border reopening added another layer to the conversation, highlighting just how quickly information, and misinformation, can move the market and industry sentiment.
They break down where things actually stand today, including updates on sterile fly production, cattle movement, and how both U.S. and Mexican producers are being impacted as this situation continues to develop.
Takeaways:
False reports about the border reopening continue to circulate
Screw worm remains a key factor in ongoing policy decisions
Sterile fly production is still below needed levels
The closed border continues to impact cattle flow and pricing
Both U.S. and Mexican producers are feeling the effects
Market dynamics are being shaped by limited supply movement
This remains an evolving situation across the industry
Have a topic you want to hear discussed? Use the button below to send us your request and tune in to CattleUSA TV on YouTube to see the answer 🤠
*Do not include personal details like addresses, passwords, financial information or other sensitive data*
(No LRPs published 4/17 due to CoF report)
Friday, April 17
Cattle on Feed April 1st
99.46% or 11,576,000 hd if you believe that
Placements in March
92.7% or 1,709,000 hd
Marketed in March
94.49% or 1,632,000 hd
I'd call it a dud, well within ranges and averages of estimates. According to this report, AZ, CO, and TX are the only states that have less cattle on feed than they did last year. It's amazing how cash tells a different story than that, but whatevs. As far as weights are concerned, nothing stands out as all weight categories saw lower placements. The only things worth noting would be placing more cattle than we harvested last month, and heifers on feed in the feedyards dropped 60,000 head last month compared to 2025, while steers on feed only dropped 2,000 head. I'll let you make your own conclustions there.
Next week will be interesting given today's wild action and steady cash trade. I'm going to say good luck and anyone's guess sounds good to me.
-Fat cattle kill at 77,000 vs 83,000 a week ago and 90,000 a year ago
-Choice boxes down .51 to $381.06 and select down 1.88 to $376.60 for a spread of 4.46 on 92 loads
-CME feeder index(Feeder LRP Settlement) for 4/16 came in at $377.67
-Fed Cattle LRP’s ending last week settled at $248.51
-Hog kill at 457,000 vs 484,000 a week ago and 391,000 a year ago.
-Afternoon Pork reported up 2.52 at $99.20 on 307 loads
-CME lean hog index on 4/15 reported at 90.66
-CME pork cutout index on 4/16 reported at 97.69
-LRP’s ending 4/17 settled at approximately $90.50
Click here to connect with a CattleUSA Insurance representative
Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Review our full disclaimer at https://www.logicag.com/disclaimer
Most locations along and east of I-35 will see 1”-3” with a few locations seeing 3”-6”. All other locations will see 0.50”-1.50”. The rain from NE to west TX will occur mostly after 4/23
CattleUSA has teamed up with Weather 20/20 to bring you exclusive access to long-range weather forecasts using their patent-pending LRC methodology. Plan ahead with confidence and stay ahead of the weather—now at a special discounted rate for CattleUSA users!
USDA Expands Screwworm Defense Effort
The USDA is building a $750 million sterile fly facility in Edinburg, Texas, to combat New World screwworm. Once complete, it will produce up to 300 million flies weekly, strengthening U.S. defenses and reducing reliance on foreign production. read more here
Forest Service Closures Raise Concerns
Plans to close most U.S. Forest Service research stations are sparking concern among foresters, who warn the move could weaken wildfire preparedness and disrupt decades of critical research on forests, pests, and ecosystems despite agency assurances of consolidation. read more here
Farmers Turn To AI Tools
Farmers are increasingly using AI tools like ChatGPT to improve decision-making, manage records, optimize inputs, and streamline daily operations, turning complex data into practical insights that boost efficiency and profitability on modern farms. read more here
Friday, April 17
| MARKETS | PRICE | CHANGE | PERCENT |
| DOW | 49,447.43 | + 868.71 | 1.79% ▲ |
| S&P 500 | 7,126.06 | + 84.78 | 1.20% ▲ |
| NASDAQ | 24,468.48 | + 365.78 | 1.52% ▲ |
| Russell 2000 | 2,776.90 | + 57.30 | 2.11% ▲ |
| Gold | 4,849.40 | - 30.20 | 0.62% ▼ |
| Silver | 80.92 | - 0.92 | 1.12% ▼ |
| Bitcoin | 77,448.00 | + 2,356.00 | 3.14% ▲ |
| Crude Oil | 84.00 | + 1.41 | 1.71% ▲ |
Cattle Futures Slide From Highs
Cattle markets turned sharply lower after early gains, with profit-taking and overbought conditions triggering a selloff. Traders are watching key support levels and potential border policy shifts, while grains weakened as energy markets pulled back. read more here
Corn Finds Support, Wheat Climbs
Corn is stabilizing on strong demand and improving technicals, while wheat continues rallying on Plains drought concerns. Soybeans remain rangebound under weaker export demand, as weather and global markets drive near-term direction. read more here
Hormuz Reopens, Markets React Fast
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz sent oil and gasoline prices sharply lower, easing inflation pressure. Grain markets dipped on fading supply fears, while hopes rise that improved fertilizer flow could bring some cost relief to farmers. read more here
CattleUSA Daily Podcast:
If you or someone you know would be interested in hopping on the mic to share your story, please contact us at [email protected]. — Video streaming weekdays on YouTube @cattleusatv. Audio available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major streaming platforms.
Happy Monday!
Grab your coffee by the handle and life by the horns!
Want more CattleUSA? Check out our socials!
-
Questions, comments, concerns? Reply to this email or message us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you!
Premium Membership Details
Become a Premium member of the CattleUSA Drive Community for full access to this post and other member-only content.
Click Here to Upgrade AccountPremium Membership Includes:
- Daily Market Insights
- Daily Feeder Cattle Index
- Daily Inspirational Thought
- Insider Expert Commentary
- Predictive Weather Forecasting by Weather 20/20
- Latest Industry News & Updates
- The Saturday Edition
- Full Access to All Content & Archive
- Access to Exclusive Content & Events
- CattleUSA Partner Discounts
- Community Contributions & Insights
- + More!