Prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist. The Market Update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA NASS and AMS reports.
Winter weather and cold temperatures in many regions of the country during the weekend and beginning part of this week has added stress to the beef market. Approximately 3,800 JBS employees at their Greeley, Colorado packing plant officially went on strike Monday. The facility has the capacity to harvest 6,000 cattle daily. Harvest last week was estimated at 525,000 head. While that is 4,000 head more than the previous week, harvest totals have been lower than expected. Last week’s total was 61,000 less than the same week last year. Year-to-date beef production is 7.6% lower than 2025. This has caused wholesale beef prices to rise. The Choice beef cutout value was $9.12 higher last week, to average $395.54, making it the highest since September of last year. All cattle harvested last week averaged 1,469 pounds, up from 1,430 pounds a year ago. Carcasses averaged 896 pounds last week, making them 25 pounds heavier. Even more telling is the Five Area weekly data. Steer weights were reported to be 1,603 pounds with an average carcass weight of 1,033. The latest World Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report was released last week. Projected beef production for the year was lowered by 110 million pounds to 25.81 billion pounds – a decrease of 1%.
Fed Cattle
Fed cattle were mostly steady this week. Top quality beef steers and heifers brought $223-$240/cwt with tops of $245 reported. Mixed Choice and Select steers and heifers ranged from $210-223/cwt. High grading Holstein steers were steady to higher at $195-$219/cwt, with some packages selling higher. Lower grading steers brought $170-$194/cwt. Silage fed and under finished steers brought $90-$170/cwt. Dairy Beef cross steers were mostly steady, bringing $190-$233. Cows were mostly steady. Most cows brought $114-50/cwt with a few selling into the mid $160s. Lower yielding cows brought $65-$114/cwt. Doubtful health and thin cows brought up to $60/cwt. Dairy breed bull calves were mixed, selling from $700-$1,550/head with some higher. Dairy breed heifer calves brought $200-$800/head. Beef and Beef Cross calves were steady from $800 to $1,800/head. Light and lower quality calves sold up to $60. New crop lambs brought $266-$286/cwt with some to $280/cwt.
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