Live Cattle (LE) Futures Contract Specifications

What Are Live Cattle (LE) Futures?

Live Cattle Futures (LE) provide traders with exposure to the beef cattle market. These contracts allow for speculation on cattle prices, hedging for producers and meat packers, or agricultural portfolio diversification.

Contract Size

Contract Size: 40,000 pounds

Example: This contract size allows traders to gain exposure to meats with controlled leverage and risk.

Tick Value and Increment

  • Tick Size: 0.025 cents per pound
  • Tick Value: $10.00 per tick
  • Point Value: $400.00 per cent

These specifications make Live Cattle (LE) Futures suitable for traders seeking exposure to meats markets.

Trading Hours

Live Cattle (LE) Futures trade with extended hours, providing flexibility for traders in different time zones.

  • Trading Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 1:05 PM
  • Time Zone: Central Time (CT)

Trading Symbol

Platform Symbol: LE

Margins

To trade Live Cattle (LE) Futures, you'll need to meet specific margin requirements. Check with your broker for the latest margin rates and details.

Why Trade Live Cattle (LE) Futures?

  • Exposure to the beef supply chain and protein markets
  • Effective hedging tool for ranchers and meat processors
  • Responds to feed costs, weather, and consumer demand
  • Seasonal patterns create recurring trading opportunities
  • Reflects broader trends in protein consumption

Position Sizing for Live Cattle (LE) Futures

Proper position sizing is crucial when trading Live Cattle (LE) Futures. Use our position size calculator to determine the optimal number of contracts based on your risk tolerance and account size.

Position Size Calculator Example

For Live Cattle (LE) Futures (LE):

  • Tick Size: 0.025 cents per pound
  • Tick Value: $10.00 per tick
  • Point Value: $400.00 per cent

If you want to risk $500 with a 10-point stop loss:

Risk per Contract = Stop Loss in Points × Point Value = 10 × 400.00 per cent = $4000

Maximum Contracts = Risk Amount ÷ Risk per Contract = $500 ÷ $4000 = 0 contracts