Authors: David Anderson and Josh Maples
Cow prices normally increase seasonally until about June each year. 2026 prices have had little seasonal increase, but they remain in record high territory. Auction prices in the Southern Plains for 85-90 percent lean cows have increased by about $3 per cwt to $167 per cwt since the beginning of January. National average cutter quality cows have increased about $13 per cwt since the first of the year. Likewise, the cow beef cutout has steadily increased by $19 per cwt to $331 per cwt in early March.
Across the South, cull cows at auctions have trended higher this year. Since the first of the year, Mississippi breaker quality cow auction prices have been as high as $175, and started early March at $162 per cwt. Kentucky culls of the same quality began in March at $164. Breaker cows at Georgia auctions have been even higher, beginning in March at $174 per cwt.
Yield grade 1 cull bulls broke the $200 per cwt barrier during February in Mississippi and Georgia auctions. Those prices are about $30 per cwt higher than this time last year. Bull prices have increased a little more than cow prices this Spring.
Tighter supplies are boosting prices. Beef cow slaughter is down more than 20 percent from last year so far in 2026. Only 34,200 head were slaughtered during the last week of January, making it the smallest non-holiday week slaughter in years. Dairy cow slaughter is running 7.3 percent higher than last year. The largest dairy cow herd since the early 1990s and sharply lower milk prices will keep dairy cow slaughter ahead of 2025’s pace in the coming weeks. The high price of calves, especially beefXdairy crossbred calves, has helped to boost dairy cow inventory as producers are seeing larger returns from the calves to help offset lower milk prices.
Short supplies of fed cattle are reducing overall beef production, which is helping to keep non-fed beef prices high. Record high fed steer dressed weights, over 980 pounds per carcass on average, are boosting supplies of fat. The larger supplies of fat require larger amounts of lean beef to blend to desirable ground beef percentages. That increase in processor demand for lean beef to mix with ample supplies of fat is also helping to boost cull cow values. Cull prices are seeing a boost from both the supply and demand sides of the equation.
Events of the last week are likely to test the strength of beef demand. Ground beef usually gets a grilling season boost in the Spring and could get an extra boost ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup. That demand bump usually leads to higher cull cow prices. So, there is still some room for higher cull cow prices this Spring.
Anderson, David, and Josh Maples. “Cull Cow Prices High and Bull Prices Break $200.” Southern Ag Today 6(11.2). March 10, 2026. Permalink
