Cattle futures hover near highs as cash prices jump - CME June lean hog futures slide2 May 2025 2 May 2025 2 minute read 2 minute read By: By: Global Ag Media North AmericaChicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle and feeder cattle futures hovered near recent contract highs on Thursday as traders said cash prices galloped to new highs, reported Reuters. Cash cattle prices reached $223 per cwt in Iowa and $218 in Texas and Kansas, up about $6 from last week, a broker said. CME June live cattle futures closed up 1.25 cents at 209.65 cents per pound, after setting a contract high of $211 on Wednesday. CME August feeder cattle futures slipped 0.575 cent to finish at 294.45 cents per pound. Reduced slaughtering rates fuelled concerns among some traders about weakening demand for cattle at high prices, which left processors facing losses estimated at $100 per head.