Live Cattle
Live Cattle Meaning:
In commodity market terminology, Live Cattle refers to cattle industrially-raised for beef production from the calf stage until they reach between 600 to 800 pounds. At this point, they are considered Feeder Cattle and are taken to feedlots to continue the fattening process. The Feeder Cattle eventually reach weights of roughly 1,250 pounds, whereupon they are slaughtered to produce beef meat.
In commodity market terminology, Live Cattle refers to cattle industrially-raised for beef production from the calf stage until they reach between 600 to 800 pounds. At this point, they are considered Feeder Cattle and are taken to feedlots to continue the fattening process. The Feeder Cattle eventually reach weights of roughly 1,250 pounds, whereupon they are slaughtered to produce beef meat.
Live Cattle futures trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and on the CME Group’s electronic Globex platform. The contract is for 40,000 pounds or 18 metric tons of 55% Choice, 45% Select and Yield Grade 3 Live Steers. Quotes are in U.S. Dollars with a minimum fluctuation of $0.00025 per pound or $10 per contract. Live Cattle’s trading symbol is LC.