hat a ride the cattle market
saw in 2025! The good news was
well-received throughout the in
dustry as all records were broken
throughout the year. Record low
inventory and an uprising in con
sumer demand set the stage for an
historic year. Packers were feeling
the pressure as the supplies contin
ued to deplete. Several factors con
tributed to the short supply; Mexico
screwworm, droughts, and aging
ranchers pushed cattle numbers to
all-time lows.
The January 2025 feeder calf
contract started at $281.68 to end in
December at $336.00, with a record
high in October at $381.05. The
CME Feeder Cattle Index also ex
perienced huge leaps from $278.31
all the way up to $383.00.
Cash feeders rallied with 400-to-
500-pound steers soaring to close
to $6.00. Yearlings were also very
impressive with 8-wts. exceeding
$4.00.
Live cattle finally broke the
$2.00 per pound barrier. Live cat
tle started out in 2025 at $196.60
per hundredweight (cwt) to reach
all-time highs at $246.78. Auction
cattle saw highs up to $2.50 per
pound in mid-July.
As the year ended in 2025 with
some negative news from the top,
the markets saw some pressure
dropping to $2.10 in the North and
$2.18 in the South. But to close out
the year, boys were holding strong
asking $2.24 in the North.
Your breeding stock throughout
2025 gained momentum as well,
with many producers looking to
add some stock due to excessive
supply of feed. At the close of 2025,
the stock cows were ranging from
$3,500 to $5,000 per head. Many
bred heifers selling for $3,800 to
$5,200. Seems justifiable since
the slaughter cows and bulls were
strong all year.
Seems like maybe we’ve weath
ered the storm and 2026 looks like
we could set off into another ex
citing year in the cattle business!
Optimism
has
come back, and
it appears Mex
ico
might
just
stay locked down
for another few
months due to an
other screwworm
case. Looks like
the runs of calves
will be coming to
the market in Jan
uary with very
few numbers be
hind them. That
should set up well
for another exciting spring run to
market!
As always if you’re needing to
buy or sell give me a call or text and
we’ll assist you in any way. God
bless and Happy New Year!
A review of the current cattle market.
contributed article by Roman Schooley
Bloomfield Livestock Market, Inc., Bloomfield, Iowa
bloomfieldlivestockiowa.com
Sale Barn Study
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A BREAKOUT YEAR FOR CATTLE PRODUCERS
Roman Schooley, Bloomfield, Iowa
Roman Schooley owns Bloomfield Livestock Mar
ket and Schooley Cattle Co. in Bloomfield, Iowa.
As president of Schooley Cattle Co., Roman leads
the breeding decisions of the seedstock operation
which consists of 550 registered Simmental and
Angus cows. Schooley Cattle Co. utilizes IVF to
produce breed leading genetic advancement. The
company hosts an annual production sale the first
Friday in February at the ranch; selling 18-month-
old and yearling bulls and a select group of open
and bred heifers. Roman also owns and assists
in the operations at Bloomfield Livestock Market
which primarily serves producers in Iowa, Mis
souri, and Illinois. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have
three children: Hannah (23), Haven (20), Houstin
(17), and one grandson, Weaver (2 months).
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January 2026 | THE STOCKMAN AG-EXTRA