Kansas direct cattle trade — week of October 19, 2026
Feeder cattle sold ranch to feedlot, outside the auction ring, Oct 19–October 23, 2026. Covers Kansas.
F.O.B. 1,644 more
Prices here are delivered to the feedlot. Most direct trades in Kansas over the last 13 weeks were priced delivered (freight included) rather than F.O.B., so the cards, trends and charts use delivered prices. F.O.B. prices are in their own column.
Compared to last week: Feeder steers traded mostly 7.00 higher. Not enough comparable sales on Current FOB heifers for a market trend. Buyer demand was good, as the winter wheat crop is beginning to emerge following some early fall rains and more rain in the forecast through the weekend. According to the Kansas Crop Progress and Condition report 60 percent of the winter wheat crop has been planted, with 30 percent emerged.
USDA Market News reporter, week of October 19, 2026
Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (62.8% Steers, 33.3% Heifers, 3.9% Beef/Dairy Heifers). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 95%. Unless otherwise noted, Feeder Cattle prices FOB based on net weights after a 2 -3% shrink or equivalent, with an 8-12 cent slide >600 lbs. and up to a 25 cent slide < 600 lbs..
Feeder steers — week of Oct 19
| Weight | Current head | Avg wt | Current $/cwt | vs last week | Forward $/cwt | F.O.B. $/cwt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600–699 lb | 472 | 658 lb | $378.10 | −2.86 | — | — |
| 700–799 lb | 720 | 753 lb | $357.96 | −0.42 | — | — |
| 800–899 lb | 1,518 | 862 lb | $338.11 | −0.19 | $323.81590 hd · Jan | $341.46180 hd |
| 900–999 lb | 223 | 951 lb | $324.02 | −6.16 | $334.00230 hd · Nov | $329.74620 hd |
Feeder heifers — week of Oct 19
| Weight | Current head | Avg wt | Current $/cwt | vs last week | Forward $/cwt | F.O.B. $/cwt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500–599 lb | 273 | 554 lb | $378.12 | — | — | — |
| 600–699 lb | 407 | 669 lb | $344.75 | −12.86 | — | — |
| 700–799 lb | 331 | 754 lb | $335.59 | +3.07 | $320.63725 hd · Jan, Dec | $327.79330 hd |
| 800–899 lb | 480 | 818 lb | $323.13 | +0.19 | — | $306.5058 hd |
Price trends (current delivered)
Steers 700–799 lb Rising
- Latest (week of October 19, 2026)
- $357.96/cwt
- 4-week average
- $358.67
- 13-week average
- $353.11
- 4-week vs 13-week
- +1.6%
Sales in 7 of the last 13 weeks.
Steers 800–899 lb Steady
- Latest (week of October 19, 2026)
- $338.11/cwt
- 4-week average
- $336.77
- 13-week average
- $334.32
- 4-week vs 13-week
- +0.7%
Sales in 9 of the last 13 weeks.
Heifers 700–799 lb Steady
- Latest (week of October 19, 2026)
- $335.59/cwt
- 4-week average
- $331.89
- 13-week average
- $329.76
- 4-week vs 13-week
- +0.6%
Sales in 10 of the last 13 weeks.
Direction compares the 4-week average with the 13-week average: Rising +1% or more, Steady within ±1%, Easing −1% to −3%, Falling −3% or more. Weekly prices are head-weighted averages of Medium and Large No. 1 and 1–2 feeder cattle, regular lots.
The label describes recent prices; it is not a forecast. In our backtest of every barn since 2019 (about 35,000 barn-weeks), barns labeled Falling went on to beat other barns' average move over the next 13 weeks 61% of the time, and barns labeled Rising trailed it 56% of the time.
Last 52 weeks
Price history
Recent weeks
| Week of | F.O.B. head | Delivered head | Steers 800–899 | Steers 700–799 | Heifers 700–799 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19 | 1,644 | 6,170 | $338.11 | $357.96 | $335.59 |
| Oct 12 | 2,092 | 3,999 | $338.30 | $358.38 | $332.52 |
| Oct 5 | 530 | 4,521 | $335.69 | $359.68 | $332.76 |
| Sep 28 | 330 | 2,745 | $335.00 | — | $326.68 |
| Sep 21 | 322 | 1,782 | — | $351.50 | — |
| Sep 14 | 495 | 2,147 | $327.00 | — | $332.14 |
| Sep 7 | 735 | 3,992 | $322.31 | — | $327.24 |
| Aug 31 | — | 1,533 | — | $335.00 | $331.50 |
| Aug 24 | 527 | 1,010 | $325.00 | — | $312.00 |
| Aug 17 | 236 | 2,120 | — | — | — |
| Aug 10 | 5,749 | 2,545 | — | $358.23 | $328.01 |
| Aug 3 | 185 | 3,728 | $344.50 | — | $339.15 |
| Jul 27 | 110 | 1,108 | $343.00 | $351.00 | — |
Source: USDA AMS Market News, “Kansas Direct Cattle Report” (AMS_3097). Direct trades are negotiated between sellers and buyers (often feedlots) and reported to USDA weekly; weights are estimates and prices carry the shrink and slide terms above.