The daily read

Friday, September 4, 2026

Latest read
Beef printed 23 quotes higher, 17 lower, on the heaviest volume in a month. Eight of every ten beef pounds that cleared today were trim, double the usual share. Chuck barely traded. Pork muscle ham to blue, Fresh 85CL Trimmings, Ground beef 81% and Fresh 92-94CL Trimmings are trading below their three week ranges. The Choice/Select spread narrowed $5.88 to $20.30/cwt, so trading down to Select saves less. Choice pectoral meat has closed lower four days in a row. Cattle kill 509,000 head for the week, 4% over a year ago; hogs 2.30 million, 19% over a year ago. Friday's weekly chicken report: tenders have shed 38% over 14 weeks without a single higher close.
Highlights

Cuts in this read: Trmd Sparerib - Lgt, Poly, Fzn · Muscle Ham To Blue · Chemical Lean, Fresh 85% · Ground Beef 81% · Chemical Lean, Fresh 92-94% · Chemical Lean, Fresh 90%

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Meat Read publishes one of these every trading day, free, after the USDA afternoon close. Beef and pork wholesale, what moved and what it means for a buyer.