Southwest direct cattle trade — week of October 19, 2026
Feeder cattle sold ranch to feedlot, outside the auction ring, Oct 19–October 23, 2026. Covers AZ, CA, NV.
Delivered 2,455 more
Compared to last week, dairy steers sold 10.00-20.00 higher. Trade active, demand good.
USDA Market News reporter, week of October 19, 2026
Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (100% Dairy Steers). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 0%. Unless otherwise noted, Feeder Cattle prices FOB based on net weights after a 0% shrink or equivalent, with a and 0 cent slide < 600 lbs.
Price trends (current F.O.B.)
Steers 800–899 lb Steady
- Latest (week of August 31, 2026)
- $306.05/cwt
- 4-week average
- $306.05
- 13-week average
- $306.05
- 4-week vs 13-week
- 0.0%
Sales in 1 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 | — | 2,455 | — | — | — |
| Oct 12 | 100 | 8,070 | — | — | — |
| Oct 5 | — | 1,380 | — | — | — |
| Sep 28 | — | 1,925 | — | — | — |
| Sep 21 | 120 | 2,085 | — | — | — |
| Sep 14 | — | 1,435 | — | — | — |
| Sep 7 | 220 | 1,345 | — | — | — |
| Aug 31 | 90 | 1,350 | $306.05 | — | — |
| Aug 24 | 45 | 2,040 | — | — | — |
| Aug 17 | 180 | 1,710 | — | — | — |
| Aug 10 | — | 945 | — | — | — |
| Aug 3 | — | 3,335 | — | — | — |
| Jul 27 | 174 | 1,015 | — | — | — |
Source: USDA AMS Market News, “Southwest Direct Cattle Report (AZ/CA/NV)” (AMS_2940). 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.