Hog prices edge higher as pork cutout values strengthen - CME
Tight cattle supplies lift beef futures ahead of holiday
22 December 2025
1 minute read
By: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live and feeder cattle futures shot higher on Friday on position squaring ahead of next week's Christmas holiday and expectations of an ongoing tight supply of cattle, Reuters reported, citing analysts.
After the close of trade, market players assessed a relatively bullish Cattle on Feed report. The report showed the number of cattle placed on feedlots was lower than the previous year and below trade estimates, contributing to expectations that cattle supply will remain low in the new year.
"It's lightly positive that placements came in under expectations," said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale.
CME February live cattle settled 2.40 cents higher at 230.80 cents per pound. March feeder cattle ended 4.80 cents higher at 339.40 cents per pound.
Wholesale boxed beef prices rebounded on Friday afternoon.
Choice cuts of beef rose $4.35 to $361.63 per hundredweight, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. Select cuts rose $2.05 to $346.02 per cwt.
New data has contributed to further worries over consumer demand for beef, which is typically the priciest meat at grocery stores.
Existing home sales rose marginally in November as economic uncertainty and still-elevated mortgage rates curbed demand. University of Michigan's survey of consumer sentiment came in lower than consensus estimates but above the November number.
"There are concerns on the demand side of things, but we can't say yet that there's a nationwide consumer pushback against beef prices," said Nelson.
Meanwhile, CME benchmark February lean hog futures rose 0.375 cent to settle at 84.50 cents per pound.
Wholesale pork cutout prices were higher. The USDA reported that pork carcasses were up $2.33 at $99.76 per cwt, with ham prices and belly prices rising.
