8-23-25 – Total red meat supplies in freezers on July 31 were down about 2% from the previous month and down about 5% from last year, the USDA said in its monthly Cold Storage report, which was released on Friday.
Total frozen poultry supplies on July 31, 2025 were up about 4% from the previous month but down about 2% from a year ago.
BEEF STOCKS MIXED
Total pounds of beef in freezers, at 397.818 million pounds, were down 2.452 million, or 0.61%, from 400.270 million the previous month but up 3.865 million, or 0.98%, from 393.953 million last year.
Of that, 357.039 million pounds were classed as “boneless” beef, down 1,717 million, or 0.48%, from 358.756 million a month earlier but up 4.593 million, or 1.30%, from 352.446 million a year earlier.
Another 40.779 million pounds was classed as “beef cuts,” down 835,000, or 2.01%, from 41.614 million in June and down 728,000, or 1.75%, from 41.507 million in July 2024.
PORK STOCKS DOWN
Frozen pork supplies, at 404.583 million pounds, were down 14.107 million, or 3.37%, from 418.690 million a month earlier and were down 48.780 million, or 10.8%, from 453.363 million last year.
Stocks of pork bellies were 31.699 million pounds, down 12.401 million, or 28.1%, from 44.100 million last month and down 10.566 million, or 25.0%, from 42.265 million last year.
Frozen hams on hand totaled 126.238 million pounds, up 15.553 million, or 14.1%, from 110.685 million a month ago but down 13.226 million, or 9.48%, from 139.464 million a year ago.
Loins in cold storage totaled 33.463 million pounds, down 3.138 million, or 8.57%, from 36.601 million a month earlier and down 465,000, or 1.37%, from 33.928 million a year earlier.
Frozen pork ribs totaled 61.671 million pounds, down 3.383 million, or 5.20%, from 65.054 million, a month ago but up 2.831 million, or 4.81%, from 58.840 million a year ago.
POULTRY STOCKS MIXED
Total stocks of chicken on ice were 773.065 million pounds, up 11.794 million, or 1.55%, from 761.271 million the previous month and up 21.196 million, or 2.82%, from 751.869 million last year.
Frozen chicken breasts and breast meat totaled 225.317 million pounds, down 1.594 million, or 0.70%, from 226.911 million last month but up 23.210 million, or 11.5%, from 202.107 million last year.
Chicken leg quarters on ice totaled 56.082 million pounds, up 2.626 million, or 4.91%, from 53.456 million a month earlier but down 5.813 million, or 9.39%, from 61.895 million a year earlier.
Total pounds of turkey in freezers were 405.091 million pounds, up from 372.088 million last month but down from 751.869 million July 31, 2024.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers last week ranged from $236.22 per cwt to $244.13, compared with the previous week’s range of $236.15 to $246.50 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $369.86 per cwt to $385.93, compared with $371.08 to $384.31.
The USDA choice cutout Friday was up $0.05 per cwt at $407.91 while select was up $0.06 at $383.66. The choice/select spread narrowed to $24.25 from $24.26 with 102 loads of fabricated product and 16 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef was $432.49 per cwt, and 50% beef was $187.77.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.30 to $1.40 a bushel over the Sep corn contract, which settled at $3.88 1/4, up $0.01.
No live cattle delivery intentions were posted.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Wednesday was $350.18 per cwt, up $2.74. This compares with Friday’s Aug contract settlement of $360.35, up $3.97.