Another Record Year Forecast for Cattle

At the Ag Outlook Forum, USDA said cattle prices will push higher again in 2026. The steer price is forecast to average $240 per hundredweight, seven percent higher than the previous year. Tight supplies and continued strong consumer demand will underscore the fed cattle trade. For feeder cattle, 750-to-800 pound calves are expected to average $364 per hundredweight. That’s up 13 percent from the 2025 average. Hog and lamb prices are projected to be slightly higher on average this year.