Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTDon DawsonTue, August 18, 2026 at 7:48 PM GMT+2 6 min readHerd of young calves looking at camera_ Image by Symbiot via Adobe Stock_Live cattle futures have lost momentum after reaching summer highs, but the decline should not be confused with a sudden increase in the nation's cattle supply. The recent weakness reflects softer cash trade, slower seasonal beef demand and technical selling. In the long term, the fundamental balance remains tight.As of August 18, October live cattle futures were near $219 per hundredweight, down roughly $11 from the early-August high. Cash cattle also traded $2 to $3 lower during the second week of August. Packers had covered much of their near-term inventory, while beef demand entered the slower period between the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Those conditions reduced the need for packers to bid aggressively for market-ready cattle.More News from BarchartCorn and Soybean Prices Have a Major Catalyst This Week as the Pro Farmer Crop Tour Kicks OffConcerns About a Global Supply Squeeze Lifts Coffee PricesCoffee Prices Soar on Supply Concerns