October Live Cattle futures trade sharply lower, reaching their lowest close since July 27 after failing to break above the 200-day moving average. Cash cattle prices also ease, trading $2 to $3 lower on the week as seasonal grilling demand slows between the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. Meatpackers appear to have met their near-term inventory needs, dampening aggressive cash market bidding. Meanwhile, weekly beef export sales land at 14,400 metric tons—a 27% decline from last week's robust total, but 10% above the four-week average, indicating sustained underlying export demand.