USDA Nat’l Feeder Cattle Summary 12/15 13:36
12/15/2025 | 1:36 pm CST USDA Nat’l Feeder Cattle Summary 12/15 13:36
SJ_LS850
St. Joseph, MO Mon Dec 15 2025 USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News
NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY - WEEK ENDING 12/13/2025
RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 227,400 33,200 25,600 286,200
Last Week: 214,200 15,800 57,700 287,700
Year Ago: 286,300 27,800 5,700 319,800
Auction Receipts: 227,400 Last Week 214,200 Last Year 286,300
Compared to last week, steers and heifers in the Southeast sold 10.00 to
20.00 higher, while the North Central and South-Central areas sold 6.00 to
11.00 higher. Lighter weight calves continue to lead the way in the uptrend
in the last couple weeks as buyers have been aggressively procuring needs
before a two-week layoff for the holiday season. Many of the lightweight
calves originating in the Northern Plains are heading south for winter
grazing. Some of them will stick around up North and will be grown slowly
and kicked out on summer grass in 2026. Demand for all classes of cattle is
good to very good, demand for lighter weight calves suitable for wheat
grazing has been outstanding which might be a bit of a surprise in Mid-
December when we typically see the middle weights to be strongest for those
looking to graze wheat. It almost feels more like March when buyers are
looking for grass cattle. One possibility could be that current price levels
are making things pencil differently and some adjustments from typical
practices are being made. Feedlots also jumped into the market to back fill
empty pens; knowing that auction receipts will be almost nil until the first
week in January of the new year. Cow sales have been abundant, and reporters
have noted good demand for replacement cows as producers look to make some
buys which typically are considered as being done for tax purposes. Ample
feed availability in some areas and the idea that slow herd rebuilding is
taking place also exists. An interesting observation is proven young, bred
cows coming up on their second or third calves are bringing as much or more
than quality unproven heifers. Feedlot sales jumped up for the second week
in a row as feedlot managers were sure glad to see a bounce in the market has
sure helped the bottom line. For the week, negotiated sales of fed cattle in
Kansas sold 5.00 higher at 230.00. In Nebraska, live sales were 5.00 higher
from 225.00 to 230.00; while dressed sales were 10.00 to 15.00 lower at
355.00. Choice closed on Friday at 357.44, 9.38 lower and Select closed at
344.22, 6.83 lower when compared to last week. Weekly Cattle Slaughter under
federal inspection estimated at 596K, 4K less than last week and 14K less
than a year ago. Auction volume this week included 50 percent weighing over
600 lbs and 38 percent heifers.
Direct Receipts: 33,200 Last Week 15,800 Last Year 27,800
(89 pct over 600 lbs, 42 pct heifers)
TEXAS 14,300. 99 pct over 600 lbs. 48 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large 1
-Current Delivery F.O.B. pkg 945 lbs 326.89; load 1050 lbs 292.38. Medium and
Large
1-2 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 650 lbs 360.00; several loads 700-749 lbs
(723)
336.59; several loads 750-799 lbs (786) 331.53; several loads 800-849 lbs (827)
325.79; several loads 850-899 lbs (878) 316.15; several loads 900-949 lbs (919)
312.02; load 1031 lbs 289.57. Heifers: Medium and Large 1 -Current Delivery
F.O.B.
several loads 700-749 lbs (702) 331.32; several loads 750-799 lbs (762) 318.87;
several loads 800-849 lbs (835) 301.01. Medium and Large 1-2 -Current Delivery
F.O.B. load 625 lbs 340.00; several loads 650-699 lbs (682) 327.18; several
loads
725 lbs 313.93; several loads 750-799 lbs (763) 314.35; few loads 800-849 lbs
(816)
299.25.
OKLAHOMA 1,600. 88 pct over 600 lbs. 57 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large
1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. few loads 775 lbs 342.00; several loads 800-849 lbs
(817)
335.06; load 875 lbs 321.50. Heifers: Medium and Large 1 -Current Delivery
F.O.B.
load 565 lbs 380.50; few loads 650 lbs 341.47; few loads 700-749 lbs (730)
329.01.
Medium and Large 1-2 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 650 lbs 309.59; few loads
700 lbs
293.53.
NEW MEXICO 500. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 54 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large
1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 820 lbs 327.15. Medium and Large 1-2 -Current
Delivery F.O.B. pkg 825 lbs 313.50. Heifers: Medium and Large 1 -Current
Delivery
F.O.B. few loads 775 lbs 319.50. Medium and Large 1-2 -Current Delivery F.O.B.
pkg
735 lbs 308.50; load 975 lbs 261.94.
KANSAS 3,800. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 59 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large 1
-Current Delivery F.O.B. few loads 850 lbs 332.50; several loads 1000 lbs
299.50.
Medium and Large 1-2 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 900 lbs 295.00. Heifers:
Medium
and Large 1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. several loads 715 lbs 331.50; few loads
765 lbs
313.50; few loads 840 lbs 303.00.
IOWA 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 100 pct heifers. There were not any
current
sales this week.
MISSOURI 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 0 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large 1-
2 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 925 lbs 300.92.
COLORADO 5,300. 97 pct over 600 lbs. 17 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large
1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 900 lbs 315.59. Medium and Large 1-2 -Current
Delivery F.O.B. pkg 476 lbs 453.42; pkg 700 lbs 329.82. Heifers: Medium and
Large 1
-Current Delivery F.O.B. pkg 459 lbs 434.42; load 900 lbs 296.00.
WYOMING & NEBRASKA 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 100 pct heifers. Heifers:
Medium
and Large 1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. few loads 875 lbs 298.00.
SOUTH DAKOTA 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 100 pct heifers. Heifers: Medium
and
Large 1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 600 lbs 400.00.
MONTANA 0. There were not any direct sales this week.
SOUTHWEST 2,100. 3 pct over 600 lbs. 0 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large
1-2 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 650 lbs 388.24.
NORTHWEST 1,300. 11 pct over 600 lbs. 54 pct heifers. There were not any
Current sales this week.
EASTERN CORNBELT 2,200. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 59 pct heifers. Steers:
Medium
and Large 1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 774 lbs 329.02; few loads 825 lbs
327.00;
few loads 856 lbs 323.00. Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2 -Current Delivery
F.O.B.
several loads 775 lbs 306.00; few loads 900 lbs 278.00.
SOUTHEAST 1,700. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 26 pct heifers. Steers: Medium and
Large 1 -Current Delivery F.O.B. several loads 700-749 lbs (730) 340.80.
Medium and
Large 1-2 -Current Delivery F.O.B. load 700 lbs 352.11; few loads 799 lbs
318.00;
few loads 800-849 lbs (813) 324.73; several loads 852 lbs 320.62. Heifers:
Medium
and Large 1-2 -Current Delivery F.O.B. few loads 725 lbs 317.11.
Video Receipts: 25,600 Last Week 57,700 Last Year 5,700
(62 pct over 600 lbs, 38 pct heifers)
CMS LIVESTOCK AUCTION 12,400. 40 pct over 600 lbs. 45 pct heifers.
Southeast (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV) HEIFERS - Medium and Large
1 Current few loads 550 lbs 389.00.
LIVEAG VIDEO AUCTION 9,000. 78 pct over 600 lbs. 31 pct heifers.
South Central (KS,MO,NM,OK,TX) STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current
load 615 lbs 413.00. Southeast (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV)
STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current couple loads 735 lbs 348.00;
load 885 lbs 318.50. HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current couple
loads 670 lbs 337.50; load 710 lbs 352.00; load 785 lbs 327.00.
Northeast/Upper Midwest (Great Lakes) (CT,DE,IL,IN,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN,NH,
NJ,NY,OH,PA,RI,VT,WI) HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current few
loads 775 lbs 326.00.
OZARKS REGIONAL STOCKYARDS 1300. 92 pct over 600 lbs. 56 pct heifers.
Southeast (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV) STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2
load 875 lbs 325.50; couple loads 925 lbs 316.50. HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1
Current load 650 lbs 335.00; couple loads 760 lbs 319.00.
APACHE LIVESTOCK AUCTION 800. 86 pct over 600 lbs. 11 pct heifers.
South Central (KS,MO,NM,OK,TX) STEERS - Medium and Large 1 Current load 475
lbs
505.00; 600-649 lbs (630) 402.33; load 690 lbs 370.50; couple loads 700 lbs
369.00
STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current load 700 lbs 320.50. HEIFERS - Medium
and Large 1 Current load 615 lbs 351.00.
BLUEGRASS STOCKYARDS - ALBANY 800. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 27 pct heifers.
Southeast (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV) STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2
850-899 lbs (867) 345.32; 900-949 lbs (914) 328.94; 950-999 lbs (965) 321.74.
HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current 700-749 lbs (730) 340.25; load 760 lbs
331.00.
JOPLIN REGIONAL STOCKYARDS 700. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 9 pct heifers.
South Central (KS,MO,NM,OK,TX) STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current couple
loads 680 lbs 383.00.
HOPE LIVESTOCK 100. 0 pct over 600 lbs. 100 pct heifers.
Southeast (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV) HEIFERS - Medium and
Large 1-2 Current load 575 lbs 366.00.
TENNESSEE VALLEY LIVESTOCK 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 49 pct heifers.
Southeast (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV) STEERS - Medium and Large
1-2 Current load 675 lbs 361.00. HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current
load 700 lbs 334.00.
CATTLE DRIVE LIVESTOCK 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 0 pct heifers. North
Central (CO,IA,MT,ND,NE,SD,WY) STEERS - Medium and Large 1 Current load 775
lbs 336.00.
PARIS STOCKYARDS 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 0 pct heifers. Southeast
(AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV) STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current
load 980 lbs 312.00.
WASHINGTON COUNTY LIVESTOCK 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 0 pct heifers.
Northeast/Upper Midwest (Great Lakes) (CT,DE,IL,IN,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN,NH,NJ,NY,
OH,PA,RI,VT,WI) STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 Current load 725 lbs 354.50.
KNOXVILLE LIVESTOCK CENTER 100. 100 pct over 600 lbs. 0 pct heifers.
Southeast (AL,AR,FL,GA,KY,LA,MS,NC,SC,TN,VA,WV) STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2
Current load 900 lbs Value Added 335.00.
SOURCE: USDA Livestock, Poultry and Grain Market News Division
St. Joseph, MO Staff
816-676-7000 StJoe.LGMN@ams.usda.gov
www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_LS850.txt
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