NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 09/19/2025

By USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News

RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 157,400 36,000 47,400 240,800
Last Week: 205,000 25,900 38,900 269,800
Year Ago: 180,600 61,000 38,900 280,500

Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold 5.00 to 10.00 lower as demand was moderate to good on moderate supply.

Buyers built loads as smaller packages are finding their way to the marketplace to take advantage of the high prices seen in recent months.

Some farmers that have cow/calves like getting calves sold before fall harvest gets into full swing.

Some short- weaned calves without any medical records and less than favorable condition are seeing some hefty discounts that will likely continue or perhaps even get larger until after a good frost, regardless of how tight supplies may be.

CME feeder cattle positions whiplashed this week with sharply lower movement and sharply higher movement seen all in the same week.

As of Fridays close, the September Feeder Cattle contract posted 359.15, up 8.75 for the week, while October closed at 354.10, up 8.30 for the week.

Several farmers have started shelling corn in the Midwest or chopping silage in the North and attention has shifted for the time being although that could be slowed by rains in some areas that came over the weekend.

Many areas did finally receive at least some rain over the last week, which was very welcome, but not nearly enough to break the drought pattern.

Producers need some fall grass growth as some ranchers have already started feeding in some fashion.

The latest drought map shows nearly 2/3 of the country in some type of drought designation, which is over 20 pct more in the last six weeks.

Friday s Cattle on Feed report came in with no major surprises as On Feed was reported at 99 pct of a year ago; Placements at 90 pct and Marketings at 86 pct.

Negotiated sales of fed cattle in the Southern Plains sold steady at 240.00. In Nebraska, live sales were 2.00 lower at 236.00 to 238.00; while dressed sales were 5.00 to 8.00 lower at 370.00.

For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 382.05, 17.99 lower and Select closed at 359.92, 18.52 lower.

Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 552K, 13K less than last week and 62K less than a year ago.

Auction volume this week included 51 percent weighing over 600 lbs and 41 percent heifers.