Cattle futures climb as beef demand heats up during grilling season - CME Hog prices dip on weak pork belly demand, technical selling22 May 2025 22 May 2025 2 minute read 2 minute read By: By: Global Ag Media North AmericaChicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle firmed on Wednesday as wholesale prices continued to rise and consumer demand for beef has stayed strong amid the US grilling season, Reuters reported, citing market analysts. CME feeder cattle futures mostly ticked lower, with prices falling sharper earlier in the session as traders responded to reports of slower demand and lower prices in some cash markets. CME August live cattle futures settled up 0.800 cent to 208.65 cents per pound — and earlier touched the highest price since May 14. And August feeder cattle futures settled down 1.075 cents at 296.425 cents per pound. But by Wednesday afternoon, cash cattle prices again turned higher, a sign that the market had yet to hit a peak, Nelson said.