Cattle Markets
Contract Specifications

Live Cattle Futures Contract Specifications

Live Cattle Futures (LE)

  • Trading Symbol: LE
  • Contract Size: 40,000 pounds
  • Trading Hours: Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM – 1:05 PM CT (TAS: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM CT)
  • Tick Size: $0.00025 per pound (¼ cent)
  • Tick Value: $10 per contract ($0.00025 × 40,000 pounds)
  • Settlement Method: Physically delivered (live cattle or carcass delivery)
  • Initial Margin: $2,970 (as of April 2025, per CME Group)
  • Maintenance Margin: $2,200 (as of April 2025, per CME Group)
  • Contract Months: Feb (G), Apr (J), Jun (M), Aug (Q), Oct (V), Dec (Z)
  • Exchange: CME Group (Chicago Mercantile Exchange)

Feeder Cattle Contract Specifications

Feeder Cattle Futures (GF)

  • Trading Symbol: GF
  • Contract Size: 50,000 pounds
  • Trading Hours: Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM – 1:05 PM CT (TAS: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM CT)
  • Tick Size: $0.00025 per pound (¼ cent)
  • Tick Value: $12.50 per contract ($0.00025 × 50,000 pounds)
  • Settlement Method: Physically delivered (feeder cattle delivery)
  • Initial Margin: $3,510 (as of April 2025, per CME Group)
  • Maintenance Margin: $2,600 (as of April 2025, per CME Group)
  • Contract Months: Jan (F), Mar (H), Apr (J), May (K), Aug (Q), Sep (U), Oct (V), Nov (X)
  • Exchange: CME Group (Chicago Mercantile Exchange)