THE PROTEIN PULSE — DRIVE TIME

Wednesday Watchlist | October 7th, 2026

HOST: Protein Pulse Drive Time. Wednesday Watchlist, October 7th. From The Sparks Group.

SHAWN: When the three hundred thousand metric ton beef import plan was announced, cattle country reacted fast. A month in, that wave has not shown up. Only thirty-seven thousand four hundred eighty-six metric tons of September's one hundred thousand ton allocation was used. Estimates suggest only about eight thousand to twenty-two thousand metric tons may actually have been beef that would not otherwise have entered the U.S. Imports still matter. But the headline number was always much larger than what the physical market was likely to deliver overnight. Politicians will always make promises. The market decides what actually moves.

HOST: Fresh nineties have slipped toward four oh two, even with cow and bull slaughter down four point six percent from last year. Australia and New Zealand nineties around three thirty-seven, F-O-B. South America near three oh five. November Australia and New Zealand around three nineteen, C-I-F. September's quota filled less than thirty-eight thousand tons. Eighty-fives jumped to three forty-eight. Fifties are ninety-two cents. The opportunity is in the spread. December live cattle jumped four twelve to two twenty-four ten. November feeders gained eight fifteen. Choice was only up sixty-seven cents, to three seventy-eight ninety-three. Select fell two twenty-three. Nearby beef is easier. Forward cattle are not.

SHAWN: China imported just under fifty-one thousand metric tons of pork in August, down thirty-four percent. USDA expects China's 2026 pork imports seventy-seven percent below five years ago, while the U.S., Brazil, Europe and Canada are all adding production. The cutout fell two seventeen to eighty-three eighty-four. Chicken is steady, and wogs were less than steady, but chicken slaughter is still up one point three percent year to date. December corn five oh eight. Meal three fifty-four eighty, up seven seventy. November West Texas Crude eighty-nine forty-four. Beef is tightening upstream while parts of the downstream market soften. Pork is producing into a smaller Chinese market. Chicken supply is still growing. Stay disciplined.

HOST: Protein Pulse Drive Time. Shawn Sparks, The Sparks Group.

SHAWN: Stay disciplined.