Cattle auction prices react to futures market volatility

As a follow-up to last week's newsletter, this week's article will dig deeper into the cash market reactions. Auction market prices dropped last week amid the decline seen in futures markets over the past two weeks. Prices were lower across all southeastern states shown in the table below for both 500-600lb steers and 700-800lb steers. Prices dropped the most in Oklahoma City and in Missouri.

Prices were roughly $20 to $50 per CWT lower for 500-600 lb. steers. Averaging across all states, the value of a 550 lb. steer was about $150 lower per head in the Southeast compared to the week prior. The impacts were certainly larger in some states.

The charts above and below show the prices of 500-600 lb. steers and 700-800 lb. steers in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Kentucky since the beginning of 2024. These are weekly statewide average prices. The drop last week is evident in the last data point. However, prices are still at very strong levels. In 2024, the 500-600 lb. market showed a more typical seasonal pattern with lower prices during August through October. Before the recent drop, auction prices had been flatter since August but had not significantly declined seasonally.

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Mississippi State University Extension

November 4, 2025