Texas direct cattle trade — week of October 19, 2026
Feeder cattle sold ranch to feedlot, outside the auction ring, Oct 19–October 23, 2026. Covers Texas.
Delivered 8,436 more
Compared to last week: Current FOB steers and heifers sold steady to 7.00 higher. Demand was moderate to good.
USDA Market News reporter, week of October 19, 2026
Supply included: 100% Feeder Cattle (58.7% Steers, 39.6% Heifers, 1.7% Beef/Dairy Heifers). Feeder cattle supply over 600 lbs was 94%. Unless otherwise noted, Feeder Cattle prices FOB based on net weights after a 2-3% shrink or equivalent, with up to a 15 cent slide >600 lbs and up to a 20 cent slide <600 lbs.
Feeder steers — week of Oct 19
| Weight | Current head | Avg wt | Current $/cwt | vs last week | Forward $/cwt | Delivered $/cwt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500–599 lb | 32 | 590 lb | $371.00 | — | — | $400.0085 hd |
| 600–699 lb | 773 | 667 lb | $366.17 | −3.14 | — | $384.0030 hd |
| 700–799 lb | 1,444 | 760 lb | $351.05 | +11.61 | $339.10203 hd · Nov, Dec | $358.71472 hd |
| 800–899 lb | 686 | 830 lb | $338.54 | +7.34 | $334.26610 hd · May, Nov, Dec | $333.58886 hd |
| 900–999 lb | 275 | 905 lb | $323.16 | +19.54 | $322.0055 hd · Nov | $324.03627 hd |
Feeder heifers — week of Oct 19
| Weight | Current head | Avg wt | Current $/cwt | vs last week | Forward $/cwt | Delivered $/cwt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400–499 lb | — | — | — | — | — | $378.6096 hd |
| 500–599 lb | 273 | 554 lb | $371.12 | — | — | $381.88255 hd |
| 600–699 lb | 698 | 675 lb | $336.48 | −5.58 | $332.06170 hd · Dec | $350.00152 hd |
| 700–799 lb | 828 | 735 lb | $328.30 | +1.90 | $324.68332 hd · Apr, Nov | $333.01952 hd |
| 800–899 lb | 120 | 825 lb | $305.22 | +7.20 | $305.43420 hd · Mar, May, Nov | $322.0060 hd |
Price trends (current F.O.B.)
Steers 700–799 lb Steady
- Latest (week of October 19, 2026)
- $351.05/cwt
- 4-week average
- $340.97
- 13-week average
- $338.79
- 4-week vs 13-week
- +0.6%
Sales in 11 of the last 13 weeks.
Steers 800–899 lb Rising
- Latest (week of October 19, 2026)
- $338.54/cwt
- 4-week average
- $329.69
- 13-week average
- $326.08
- 4-week vs 13-week
- +1.1%
Heifers 700–799 lb Steady
- Latest (week of October 19, 2026)
- $328.30/cwt
- 4-week average
- $323.53
- 13-week average
- $322.52
- 4-week vs 13-week
- +0.3%
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 | 7,524 | 8,436 | $338.54 | $351.05 | $328.30 |
| Oct 12 | 11,727 | 7,394 | $331.20 | $339.44 | $326.40 |
| Oct 5 | 9,511 | 10,162 | $325.58 | $335.94 | $323.92 |
| Sep 28 | 9,149 | 11,896 | $323.44 | $337.46 | $315.49 |
| Sep 21 | 8,684 | 3,866 | $317.95 | $332.45 | $316.56 |
| Sep 14 | 9,762 | 3,837 | $325.07 | $333.65 | $318.91 |
| Sep 7 | 4,144 | 3,353 | $318.91 | $337.57 | $322.09 |
| Aug 31 | 6,941 | 3,406 | $311.85 | $324.15 | $312.21 |
| Aug 24 | 4,973 | 2,901 | $321.92 | $330.32 | $311.42 |
| Aug 17 | 5,466 | 3,161 | $324.58 | — | $320.18 |
| Aug 10 | 10,631 | 2,036 | $338.44 | $353.23 | $329.13 |
| Aug 3 | 11,757 | 2,287 | $338.06 | $351.48 | $335.34 |
| Jul 27 | 2,668 | 1,452 | $323.49 | — | $332.80 |
Source: USDA AMS Market News, “Texas Direct Cattle Report” (AMS_2710). 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.