Position squaring ahead of the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) monthly Cattle on Feed report, released after the close, also contributed weakness. The market had been underpinned by rallying beef prices before choice beef slipped on Friday. Benchmark CME August live cattle settled 1.850 cents lower at 209.825 cents per pound, the lowest close since June 3. "You did see the big run-up in choice box beef slow down a little bit today. CME feeder cattle followed live cattle lower, surrendering early gains that were tied to the ongoing suspension of imports from Mexico over concerns about New World screwworm south of the border.