US Cattle Market Outlook for Week 48, December 1, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported a decline in wholesale beef prices , with the spread between Choice and Select meat prices widening to $15.77. Choice beef prices fell $1.46 to $366.82, while Select beef fell $4.46 to $351.05. Total cattle slaughter , as verified by the USDA's federal inspection, was 501,000 head for the week ending Saturday. This is 31,898 head fewer than the same week last year.

Last Friday afternoon, traders received the first monthly USDA feedlot inventory report since September 19. On Friday afternoon, the agency reported that the total number of feedlot cattle and calves in the U.S. market for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head was 11.7 million head as of November 1. Inventories were 2% below the November 1, 2024 , inventory, which is very close to market expectations. In October, 2.04 million head were placed in feedlots, 10% below the 2024 level and less than traders had expected. Net placements were 1.99 million head. October marked the lowest number of feedlot animals since the start of this period in 1996. In October, feeder cattle under 600 pounds (275 kg) were sold at 515,000 head, 600-699 pounds (275-299 kg) at 420,000 head, 700-799 pounds (315-319 kg) at 445,000 head, 800-899 pounds (384,000 head), 900-999 pounds (415-419 kg) at 195,000 head, and 1,000 pounds (450-499 kg) and over at 80,000 head. Total feeder cattle sold in October was 1.70 million head, down 8% from the same period in 2024 and close to market expectations.

WEEKLY COST OF CUTLERY CUT.CHOICE

CATTLE SALES

Sale of cattle, heads

Average weight

Week 47

Week 48

Weekly growth,%

Week 47

Week 48

Weekly growth,%

Bulls (live weight)

16 177

13,933

-13.9%

1,583

1,589

0.4%

Heifers (live weight)

7,849

7,017

-10.6%

1,392

1,375

-1.2%

Bulls (slaughter weight)

8,459

11,554

36.6%

1,024

1,011

-1.3%

Heifers (slaughter weight)

1,566

1,672

6.8%

890

881

-1.0%

Indicator

Week 48

Previous week

A year ago

Weekly growth,%

Growth per year, %

Volume of cattle slaughter

201,000

585,000

533,000

-65.6%

-62.3%

Live weight

1,458

1,455

1,430

0.2%

2.0%

Slaughter weight

892

890

870

0.2%

2.5%

Beef production (million pounds)

446.0

520.0

463.0

-14.2%

-3.7%

WEEKLY WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE OF BULLS

WEEKLY CHOICE/SELECT PRICE SHOULDER

CME: Live Cattle Futures

Week 47

Week 48

Weekly growth,%

December

214.45

215.58

0.5%

February

214.78

217.85

1.4%

April

215.15

219.55

2.0%

CME: Feeder Cattle Futures

January

314.23

323.98

3.1%

March

307.05

317.85

3.5%

April

305.35

316.63

3.7%

You can learn more about the state of the US cattle market (cattle prices , beef prices by category, and production trends) in Meatinfo.ru's weekly meat market reviews in Russia and globally. Weekly reviews are available with a subscription.