Feeders bring $15 to $25 higher as Superior markets 21,577 head
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Southern and midwest feeders sold $15 to $25 higher than the last test at Superior Livestock Auction’s Sept. 17 video auction, where producers marketed 21,577 head, even as USDA’s announcement of a Sept. 24 reopening at the Santa Teresa livestock port landed mid-sale.
Cattle producers sold a total of 111 lots consigned from 23 states, with 55 successful buyers. Cattle sold on contract to deliver immediately through February 2027.
“As we head into the fall run of cattle, we saw shorter numbers this week as our reps are busy delivering,” said Ralph Wade, auctioneer for Superior Livestock Auction. “Six-dollar-plus diesel adds cost to getting feeders to the feedlot, dry conditions are hanging on in the wheat pasture country, and there’s sword rattling in Washington.”
Southern and midwest feeders were lightly tested, with sales $15 to $25 higher than the last test. Eight-weight cattle brought $320 to $350 per hundredweight, roughly $2,616 to $2,950 a head. Calf prices held strong, with some 4-weight calves selling above $500. Western and northern calves were highlighted by a set of 700-pound weaned steer calves out of California that brought $392 cwt, about $2,744 a head, for immediate delivery. Heifers were soft, though not well tested, and beef-dairy demand slipped on the lightweight calves. Good quality cattle stayed in strong demand, as they have for months, though the test was light across every class.
September feeder cattle futures closed above $343 on Monday before easing through the week, settling at $334 on auction day. USDA confirmed mid-auction that it plans to reopen the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, livestock port on Sept. 24 the largest of the southern cattle crossings, closed since May 2025. Drought remains a concern across cattle country, though scattered showers brought relief in places over the past week and producers who caught meaningful moisture have already started planting wheat. Cattle numbers remain tight and the underlying fundamentals have not changed.
“Stay the course and don’t chase a volatile market trend,” Wade said. “The short supply and high demand has not changed this is just another bump in the road. Only a slow trickle is crossing the border at best, mostly rodeo steers, and heifer retention is slow. Stay with your marketing plan.”
Superior’s next offering is the October 1, 2026 Video Auction. The consignment deadline is Sep. 21. Find a rep, register to bid or view the online catalog at superiorlivestock.com.
Top Lots:
Bidart Livestock, Bakersfield, CA. 70 Weaned Str Calves @ 700#. VAC 60, Superior Verified, NHTC, Verified Natural Beef, Veg. Fed Approved, Owner Certified Natural Plus, Superior Progressive Genetics, BQA Certified, CARE Certified, Out of Black Angus, BWF & a few Hereford & RWF cows by 44 Farms, Teixeira Angus & O’Neal Angus bulls. 100% Black & BWF. First calf born 9/15/25. Pasture Raised & Product of the USA. $392.00, Sep 25-Oct 5 Del.
Brumley Cattle, Hereford, TX. 184 Feeder Heifers @ 825#. VAC 60, Superior Verified, AngusLink/Angus Verified, NHTC, Verified Natural Beef, Veg. Fed Approved, Owner Certified Natural Plus, Superior Progressive Genetics, CARE Certified, Out of Angus, Angus Plus, Brangus & BWF cows by reg. 44 Farms, 2 Bar & Express Ranches Black Angus bulls. 100% Black hided. Pasture Raised & Product of the USA. $336.00, Sep 21-22 Del.
Sanford Ranch, Canyon, TX. 414 Steer Calves @ 475#. VAC 24, Owner Certified Natural Plus, Superior Progressive Genetics, Out of Angus cows by pred. reg. RA Brown Red Angus & Bradley 3 Black Angus bulls. 38 hd of RA Brown bulls avg. top 6% $Profit (all trait), top 6% $Feeder (efficiency/carcass) & top 23% $Ranch (maternal). Approx. 60% Black Angus & 40% Red Angus. $506.00, Nov 3-10 Del.
Marjo & Jeremy Schmidt, Harwood, MO. 64 Feeder Steers @ 800#. Black Angus, Black Angus cross, Charolais or Red Angus cross. Approx. 90% Black. $355.50, Sep 21-26 Del.