Livestock Marketing Information Center
In The Cattle Markets
Updated: 3/9/2026
Beef Demand
Previous ITCMs have highlighted various markets throughout the supply chain. A constant question I have received over the last few months concerns demand. Specifically, “if the prices at the retail level have hurt demand?”
Livestock Monitor
Updated: 3/13/2026
FEEDER CATTLE PRICES AND DROUGHT
Prices for 500–600-pound steer calves and 700–800-pound feeder steers have started the year strong with weekly levels well above a year ago. Last week’s price for 500–600-pound steer calves was $500 per cwt in Montana, $504 in South Dakota, $503 in Nebraska, and $493 per cwt in the Southern Plains (KS & OK). Across these markets, prices are more than $140 per cwt (about +40%) above year-ago levels. To start 2026, prices for feeder steers are posting gains around $100 per cwt (about +30%) over a year ago. Last week’s price in Montana was $404 per cwt, $393 per cwt in South Dakota, $392 per cwt in Nebraska, and $387 per cwt in the Southern Plains. The strong prices are reflective of the tightest cattle supplies in more than 70 years but also of persistent drought across the US.
RETAIL BEEF PRICES START YEAR STRONG
The retail beef price for the month of February continued to post strong gains compared to year-ago levels, while the retail pork held steady, and the composite broiler retail price moved slightly lower. In February, the all-fresh retail beef price posted a record of $9.64 per pound, and compared to the same month last year, the price was up $1.32 per pound (+16%). As the all-fresh retail beef hit a peak in February, so did the price for ground beef at $6.90 per pound, up $0.93 per pound (+16%) from the previous year. Roasts were $8.93 per pound in February, up $0.93 per pound (+12%) from last year. In February, steaks were $14.14 per pound, an increase of $2.29 per pound (+19%) from last year and the second highest on record behind August 2025 ($14.32).
TURKEY TRADE SLOW TO START THIS YEAR WITH PRICES AT RECORD HIGH
Reported trade by the USDA-Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) in consumer-pack (C-P) whole turkey trade channels has been minimal during the first two months of 2026. Based on monthly summaries from USDA-AMS, trade for C-P hens totaled 435,000 pounds this year at an average price of close to $1.70 per pound. This compares with the first two months of 2025 when C-P hen trade volume totaled 3.58 million pounds at an average price of $0.87 per pound. The comparison to 2024 was even more dramatic, with 9.87 million pounds of C-P hens traded at an average price of $0.93 per pound in January and February.
Livestock Monitor (pdf)