Cattle Futures Decline on Weaker Beef Prices and Slaughter Data

Live cattle futures fell 35 to 60 cents on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as cash trade remained inactive and wholesale beef prices weakened. The Choice/Select spread widened to $2.92, with Choice boxes down 79 cents to $368.11 and Select down $1.93 to $365.19. USDA slaughter estimates totaled 112,000 head for the day, bringing the weekly total to 212,000 head—down 7,000 from last week and 24,878 below the same period last year. Feeder cattle futures closed mostly lower, down 50–60 cents, though the soon-to-expire January contract gained 15 cents. The CME Feeder Cattle Index rose $1.16 to $364.73.