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Cattle markets struggling to find momentum

The owner of one of the largest sale barns in the country says the cattle market remains under pressure. 

Jackie Moore with Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri says uncertainty has been the biggest driver, “We’re stagnant right here.” 

He tells Brownfield it’s been difficult for the market to find momentum. “Because the packer has such control and we closed two plants so we have no leverage on them,” he says.  “Unless the people on the other side of the CME feeder cattle and the fat cattle come to the table and start buying it, it’s hard to get any up in the market.” 

Moore says buying interest has been on the decline.  “We’re all sellers because we’re running scared,” he says.  “We got nobody in the market, the funds especially to push this market higher. And they’re out there trading something else because they got no faith in this market and they sure not got any faith in our president right at the moment. So they’re not wanting to play.” 

Since July 1, 2026, the October live cattle futures contract has lost close to $25.    

AUDIO: Jackie Moore, Joplin Regional Stockyards