Market reference update: Contract examples below may be historical. See the official exchange resources for current listings and terms.

Live Cattle futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts in which the contract buyer agrees to take delivery, from the seller, a specific quantity of live cattle (eg. 40000 pounds) at a predetermined price on a future delivery date.

Live Cattle Futures Exchanges

You can trade Live Cattle futures at Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

CME Live Cattle futures prices are quoted in dollars and cents per pound and are traded in lot sizes of 40000 pounds (18 metric tons).

Official futures market resources

Use the exchange pages for current contract specifications and margin information. Quotes may be delayed or require sign-in. Margin requirements vary by position and broker.

Exchange & futures productMarket informationMargin information
CME Live CattleQuotes / market data
Contract specifications		View margin information

Exchange references reviewed 2026-09-12. Educational examples and exchange names elsewhere in this article may be historical.

Live Cattle Price Chart — CFD Reference

Capital.com Live Cattle CFD reference price. This broker CFD (contract for difference) is a market reference, not a spot price or an exchange futures contract. Prices and quoting units may differ from the contracts described in this guide. Check the widget timestamp and market status; prices may be delayed.

Live Cattle chart by TradingView
Analyze Live Cattle on TradingView →

Live Cattle Futures Trading Basics

Consumers and producers of live cattle can manage live cattle price risk by purchasing and selling live cattle futures. Live Cattle producers can employ a short hedge to lock in a selling price for the live cattle they produce while businesses that require live cattle can utilize a long hedge to secure a purchase price for the commodity they need.

Live Cattle futures are also traded by speculators who assume the price risk that hedgers try to avoid in return for a chance to profit from favorable live cattle price movement. Speculators buy live cattle futures when they believe that live cattle prices will go up. Conversely, they will sell live cattle futures when they think that live cattle prices will fall.

Learn More About Live Cattle Futures & Options Trading