Feeder cattle prices

In USDA AMS livestock auction reports, feeder cattle are young cattle sold to be finished before slaughter — not cull cows or slaughter steers. Most lots are priced per hundredweight (cwt) on actual weight. This page shows how to read those lines and why weight bands matter.

What “feeder cattle” means in AMS reports

AMS groups auction lots into categories such as FEEDER CATTLE, SLAUGHTER CATTLE, and REPLACEMENT CATTLE. Feeder lines usually list class (STEERS, HEIFERS), grade (often Medium and Large 1), head count, weight range or average, and price per cwt. Comments like Fancy, Thin Fleshed, or Unweaned can explain why two similar-looking lots print different prices.

Why weight bands change $/cwt

Lighter calves often sell for a higher price per cwt than heavier feeders of the same class and grade. Buyers are paying for gain potential, not just pounds on the truck. Compare lots in a similar weight band, then check class, grade, and comments before you treat two numbers as the same market.

Same barn, same day at Winter Livestock (KS) on Nov 5, 2026: a lighter Fancy band at $582/cwt (worked example below) versus 158 Medium and Large 1 steers around 501 lb at $505/cwt Thin Fleshed. Same class and grade family, different weight and flesh — different $/cwt.

How to read class, grade, and unit

• Class — STEERS vs HEIFERS (and other classes AMS reports).
• Grade — frame and muscle, e.g. Medium and Large 1.
• Unit — usually Per Cwt / Actual Wt for feeders; some specialty lines are per head.
• Weight + head count — average weight and how many head in the lot.

For PDF layout and field-by-field reading, see how to read cattle auction reports. For the cwt math alone, see cattle price per cwt. For cull cows and slaughter grades, see slaughter cattle prices. For bred heifers and pairs, see replacement cattle prices. For cow-calf pairs priced per head, see cow-calf pair prices. For dairy-area calves and Beef Cross comments, see dairy / beef-cross calf prices. For feeder heifers vs similar-weight steers on $/cwt, see heifer prices. For feeder vs slaughter bulls, see bull prices. For a national weight-band snapshot of feeder steer prices, see feeder steer prices. For lighter feeders bought to graze (often called stockers), see stocker cattle prices. For a state-by-state snapshot of feeder steer prices, see cattle prices by state.

Worked example from a real sale

From Winter Livestock (KS) on Nov 5, 2026, one feeder lot in our API:

{ "auction_name": "Winter Livestock",
  "state": "KS", "report_date": "2026-11-05",
  "category": "FEEDER CATTLE", "class_name": "STEERS",
  "grade": "Medium and Large 1", "head_count": 119,
  "weight_avg": 427, "price_avg": 582,
  "unit": "Per Cwt / Actual Wt", "comments": "Fancy" }

Reading it: 119 Fancy Medium and Large 1 steers, about 427 lb average, sold at $582 per cwt. Rough lot value: (427 ÷ 100) × 582 × 119 ≈ $295,800. Source: USDA AMS; we are not affiliated with USDA.

curl -s -H "X-API-Key: kl_free_demo_2026" \
  "https://api.kossinlabs.com/v1/prices?class=STEERS&state=KS&weight_min=400&weight_max=450&limit=5"

Pull more feeder lots as JSON

Free demo key (no sign-up): kl_free_demo_2026. Docs: api.kossinlabs.com. Product page: cattle auction prices API. Starter is $29/mo for higher limits — subscribe. 30-day money-back guarantee.