NATIONAL FEEDER & STOCKER CATTLE SUMMARY – WEEK ENDING 10/18/2025

By USDA-MO Dept of Ag Market News

RECEIPTS: Auctions Direct Video/Internet Total
This Week: 221,500 26,200 34,800 282,500
Last Week: 192,400 31,000 20,600 244,000
Year Ago: 249,600 33,500 24,600 307,700

Compared to last week, steers and heifers sold 5.00 to 15.00 higher 20.00 to 25.00 higher on the more desirable consignments of calves.

Demand was good to very good at many auctions nationwide this week.

Demand for high quality heifer calves was very good as buyers purchase calves to sort to develop into replacements.

The supply of feeders has been moderate as many grain farmers are still spending time in combines or grain trucks dealing with fall harvest.

The fall run has started in Nebraska and the Dakotas as they make up more of the percentage of receipts than in recent weeks.

Some decent rains fell south of Interstate 70 and although many jackets and flannel shirts came out there has been no frost thus far. From here on out, every additional day is just a bonus for the pastures.

Cash markets remained very strong up until Friday. Until then, the futures markets seemed unstoppable, Friday proved once again what goes up can go down at a much faster pace.

Headlines which give any hint of negativity quickly gain a lot of attention and prove the markets are still extremely sensitive at such high levels.

CME positions continue to march higher with triple digit movement seen much of the week, however, limit lower movement was seen Friday as contracts locked limit lower on every contract but the current October.

As of Fridays close the October closed at 371.95, down 3.55 for the week, the November contract closed Friday at 371.70, 4.20 lower on the week.

After the previous week s sharply higher week, Friday s futures closes were a welcome sight for those that had shorted the market.

Fundamentally speaking, the overall beef calf crop is projected to be the lowest since 1941.

Beef cow numbers are low as well as feedlot numbers, however beef demand continues to be very strong. Feedlot managers and packers are doing their best to squeeze every pound of beef from feedlot cattle as weights continue to move higher.

This week s LMR Steer and Heifer formula net dressed weight was published at 948 lbs, 51 lbs more than the same week on a previous 3-year average.

Negotiated sales of fed cattle in the Southern Plains sold 5.00 higher at 240.00.

In Nebraska, live sales were 5.00 to 6.00 higher at 240.00; while dressed sales were 10.00 higher at 372.00.

For the week, Choice Boxed beef closed on Friday at 366.77, 1.20 higher and Select closed at 350.27, 3.88 higher.

Weekly Cattle Slaughter under federal inspection estimated at 567K, 20K more than last week and 40K less than a year ago.

Auction volume this week included 41 percent weighing over 600 lbs and 39 percent heifers.