Cattle Price History: Feeder & Fed Cattle Prices Since 2000
Cattle price history from the USDA: monthly and yearly feeder steer prices at Oklahoma City (500–550 lb) and fed steer prices in Nebraska since 2000, with record highs and 10-year averages. For this week’s prices, see feeder cattle prices and fed cattle prices today.
Data through: August 2026
Feeder cattle Price History Chart (2000–2025)
Monthly feeder cattle prices, last 10 years
Monthly feeder cattle prices by year ($/cwt)
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 498.77 | 515.81 | 508.23 | 507.38 | 495.07 | 477.95 | 454.77 | 416.53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2025 | 356.88 | 353.80 | 376.17 | 383.33 | 393.10 | 391.85 | 415.82 | 437.59 | 432.63 | 456.45 | 438.03 | 465.13 | 408.40 |
| 2024 | 300.74 | 318.80 | 333.38 | 325.08 | 317.05 | 329.62 | 319.22 | 305.28 | 287.96 | 293.36 | 316.48 | 338.35 | 315.44 |
| 2023 | 217.19 | 235.31 | 241.32 | 255.75 | 266.05 | 269.74 | 273.74 | 290.98 | 278.21 | 275.02 | 294.34 | 290.11 | 265.65 |
| 2022 | 195.61 | 206.63 | 202.16 | 195.19 | 186.10 | 190.28 | 194.22 | 205.95 | 192.06 | 185.85 | 196.66 | 210.73 | 196.79 |
| 2021 | 168.66 | 168.19 | 169.12 | 172.11 | 172.50 | 168.81 | 178.95 | 179.03 | 161.54 | 164.36 | 177.66 | 187.26 | 172.35 |
| 2020 | 171.50 | 178.04 | 163.88 | 153.88 | 155.51 | 151.62 | 157.79 | 160.39 | 148.49 | 146.51 | 160.91 | 166.12 | 159.55 |
| 2019 | 169.11 | 178.71 | 178.67 | 182.99 | 174.90 | 161.00 | 162.39 | 155.56 | 149.65 | 157.72 | 159.26 | 165.30 | 166.27 |
| 2018 | 179.89 | 180.40 | 179.27 | 176.24 | 172.96 | 168.54 | 163.96 | 168.86 | 169.54 | 174.08 | 170.69 | 168.28 | 172.73 |
| 2017 | 160.28 | 161.06 | 159.87 | 171.22 | 173.05 | 175.77 | 168.51 | 165.82 | 163.92 | 170.32 | 176.84 | 174.36 | 168.42 |
| 2016 | 199.02 | 197.03 | 199.94 | 184.62 | 175.05 | 160.55 | 156.52 | 155.38 | 144.40 | 133.09 | 151.12 | 146.09 | 166.90 |
| 2015 | 284.01 | 276.06 | 289.73 | 287.08 | 286.41 | 283.19 | 254.00 | 247.21 | 223.08 | 217.42 | 211.96 | 194.28 | 254.54 |
Feeder cattle prices by decade
| Decade | Average ($/cwt) | Lowest year | Highest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | $253.03 | $159.55 | $408.40 |
| 2010s | $180.52 | $125.24 | $254.54 |
| 2000s | $113.96 | $94.67 | $132.19 |
Full table: feeder cattle price every calendar-year year, 2000–2025 (26 years)
| Calendar-year | Price ($/cwt) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $408.40 |
| 2024 | $315.44 |
| 2023 | $265.65 |
| 2022 | $196.79 |
| 2021 | $172.35 |
| 2020 | $159.55 |
| 2019 | $166.27 |
| 2018 | $172.73 |
| 2017 | $168.42 |
| 2016 | $166.90 |
| 2015 | $254.54 |
| 2014 | $252.03 |
| 2013 | $174.68 |
| 2012 | $173.95 |
| 2011 | $150.42 |
| 2010 | $125.24 |
| 2009 | $110.83 |
| 2008 | $117.34 |
| 2007 | $124.31 |
| 2006 | $128.95 |
| 2005 | $132.19 |
| 2004 | $122.05 |
| 2003 | $103.10 |
| 2002 | $94.67 |
| 2001 | $104.04 |
| 2000 | $102.09 |
Series: Oklahoma City feeder steers, Medium and Large No. 1, 500–550 lb. Fed cattle history (Nebraska direct steers) is shown in the table below the charts.
Source: Livestock and Meat Domestic Data, livestock prices (USDA Economic Research Service, based on USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and Agricultural Marketing Service data). The most recent year may be preliminary or a USDA forecast. Prices are nominal (not adjusted for inflation). Checked for updates every weekday; USDA updates these tables monthly.
Fed cattle price history (Nebraska direct steers, 65–80% Choice, $/cwt)
| Year | Fed steers ($/cwt) | Feeder steers 500–550 lb ($/cwt) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $224.05 | $408.40 |
| 2024 | $188.20 | $315.44 |
| 2023 | $176.31 | $265.65 |
| 2022 | $145.11 | $196.79 |
| 2021 | $122.56 | $172.35 |
| 2020 | $107.73 | $159.55 |
| 2019 | $117.15 | $166.27 |
| 2018 | $117.07 | $172.73 |
| 2017 | $121.90 | $168.42 |
| 2016 | $120.89 | $166.90 |
| 2015 | $148.58 | $254.54 |
| 2014 | $155.11 | $252.03 |
| 2013 | $126.19 | $174.68 |
| 2012 | $123.14 | $173.95 |
| 2011 | $115.22 | $150.42 |
| 2010 | $95.03 | $125.24 |
| 2009 | $82.68 | $110.83 |
| 2008 | $92.27 | $117.34 |
| 2007 | $91.82 | $124.31 |
| 2006 | $85.41 | $128.95 |
| 2005 | $87.28 | $132.19 |
| 2004 | $84.75 | $122.05 |
| 2003 | $84.69 | $103.10 |
| 2002 | $67.04 | $94.67 |
| 2001 | $72.71 | $104.04 |
| 2000 | $69.65 | $102.09 |
The Cattle Cycle
Cattle prices move in long cycles of roughly 8–12 years. When prices are high, ranchers keep more heifers to grow their herds, which briefly tightens supply further. A few years later, more calves reach the market and prices fall. Drought interrupts the cycle by forcing ranchers to sell cows. The long run of drought-driven herd reduction in the early 2020s shrank the US cattle herd to its smallest in decades, which is why prices in the chart above climbed to records.
How to Use Cattle Price History
- Compare today’s price with the 10-year average before buying replacement heifers or stockers.
- Seasonally, calf prices are often softer in the fall, when most spring-born calves are weaned and sold.
- These are nominal prices, not adjusted for inflation.
FAQ
Why are cattle prices so high?
The US cattle herd shrank to multi-decade lows after years of drought and herd liquidation, so fewer calves are available while beef demand has stayed strong.
What were cattle prices 10 years ago?
See the monthly table above for Oklahoma City feeder steer prices each month over the last 12 years, and the yearly table for fed cattle.
Where does this data come from?
USDA Economic Research Service Livestock and Meat Domestic Data, based on USDA Agricultural Marketing Service market reports.
How often is this page updated?
We check USDA’s tables every weekday and update when new data is published.