Cattle producers are enjoying record prices for steers as they start the year.
According to USDA, prices for live slaughter steers set a record of $202.80 per hundredweight on Jan. 9 and averaged $200.56 for the first two weeks of the year. USDA estimates prices for 2025 will average $195.50 per hundredweight, which would be a 4% increase over 2024.
Feeder steers averaged $269.48 per hundredweight as of Jan. 6, $54 above their average a year ago.
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The Nov. 22 restriction on importing Mexican cattle because of screwworm has limited cattle supplies on the southern Plains, USDA noted. “These feedlots are likely drawing down on supplies from other U.S. areas, boosting feeder calf prices,” USDA said.
The number of cattle in feedlots was down slightly to 11.98 million head on Dec. 1 from 12.02 million the year before.
