Cattle futures firm as tight supply supports beef market - CME Hog prices slide on weaker cash trade and pork cutout losses4 July 2025 4 July 2025 2 minute read 2 minute read By: By: Global Ag Media North AmericaChicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures fell on Thursday on lower cash market prices, while cattle futures posted modest gains despite lower beef values as tight supplies continue to underpin the market, Reuters reported, citing analysts. Cattle futures closed firm on Friday as traders weighed current tight supplies and good packer margins against a downturn in cash beef prices. CME August live cattle ended 1.600 cents higher at 214.050 cents per pound and August feeder cattle futures finished the day up 0.475 cent at 309.500 cents per pound. The choice boxed beef cutout fell $4.09 on Thursday morning to $390.77 per cwt while the select cutout fell $1.32 to $378.99 per cwt, according to the USDA. Average beef packer margins stood at $104.75 per head on Thursday, up from $31.93 a week ago, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.com LLC.