By Kurt M. Guidry
LSU AgCenter
Over the past couple of months, cattle markets have been confronted with several developments that have increased both uncertainty and volatility. The typical seasonal downturn in beef demand during the hottest part of the summer appears to have been more pronounced and longer lasting than normal, as extreme temperatures contributed to a significant summer slowdown in beef movement. As a result, carcass cutout values declined, eventually placing pressure on both fed cattle and feeder cattle prices.