DTN Closing Livestock Comment 01/02 15:35
   Cattle Futures Start 2026 Sharply Higher

   Sharp gains quickly developed in cattle futures Friday, starting 2026 with a
bang. Aggressive triple-digit gains were noted in both live cattle and feeder
cattle futures, creating optimism for January market direction.

Rick Kment
DTN Analyst

GENERAL COMMENTS:

   Even though the livestock complex entered the new year officially mixed
following losses in hog prices and strong gains across the cattle complex, the
focus on very-active price support in both live cattle and feeder cattle trade
seemed to steal the attention of the entire market. Live cattle contracts were
led higher by spot-month contracts trading over $4 higher, while most feeder
cattle trade pushed prices $7 to $8 per cwt higher by the end of the session.
Limited trade was seen during the holiday week, but it looks like an active
beginning for 2026. Hog futures were lightly traded, with spot contracts
holding $1 per cwt losses heading into the weekend. Hog prices closed lower on
the Daily Direct Afternoon hog report, down $0.19 with a weighted average of
$70.19 on 316 hogs. March corn closed down 2 3/4 at $4.375 and March soybean
meal closed down $3.40 at $296. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 319.10
at 48,382.39.