Beef prices hit five-year high as cattle futures dip - CME Hog contracts hold firm near highs despite weak export sales13 June 2025 13 June 2025 2 minute read 2 minute read By: By: Global Ag Media North AmericaChicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures closed mostly lower on Thursday, consolidating after setting all-time highs earlier this week, but surging wholesale beef prices and strong cash cattle markets continued to underpin the market, reported Reuters. Benchmark CME August live cattle futures settled down 1.075 cents at 216.950 cents per pound. August feeder cattle futures finished 0.175 cent higher at 311.250 cents per pound but stayed inside the previous day's trading range. CME hog futures ended narrowly mixed with the most-active July and August contracts hovering near life-of-contract highs set a day earlier. Like the cattle market, hog futures have been supported by firm wholesale meat prices and strong cash hog markets.