LIVESTOCK-CME cattle futures mixed in choppy trade

CHICAGO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures were mixed on Thursday as traders eyed cash cattle trade and digested a morning U.S. Department of Agriculture report.

CME April live cattle futures LCJ26 settled 0.90 cent higher to 243.425 cents per pound. April feeder cattle FCJ26 ended 0.35 cent lower to 367.65 cents per pound.

Meatpackers lost $358.15 per head of cattle on Thursday, according to Denver-based livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge. The continued losses have raised questions about whether a strong cash cattle market will continue moving higher.

"We've been waiting to see if that'll mean a pushback on cash cattle. It's a looming question," said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale.

Choice cuts of beef were priced at $365.10 per hundredweight, up $1.30 from Wednesday, according to USDA data.

Select cuts of beef rose 5 cents to $360.68 per cwt. Consumer demand for beef has remained strong, despite record-high beef prices.

On Thursday morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported this year's beef exports are down 6% from 2025, though the slump in exports has already been factored into cattle markets, analysts said.

Lean hog futures were little changed, though market players are weighing disease and weather concerns in hog herds.

In boxed pork, the USDA reported pork carcasses at $96.10 per cwt, up 54 cents.

CME April hogs LHJ26 settled 0.90 cent higher at 93.45 cents per pound.