n your mark, get set, GO! Full
steam ahead in 2026! We have blast
ed into the new year. Cattlemen are
as optimistic as they’ve ever been.
This market demand for feeders/
stock cows is flat good. Seems as if
these family feeders are ready to fill
yards here at the start of 2026.
Your feeder calf market is very
aggressive setting records in all
lighter-weight stocker calves ready
for spring wheat. Five-weight steers
will sure bring $5.00/lb. Your CME
index is climbing back to $368.07.
The January feeder board climbed
back to $360.75 from a setback in
December. Replacement heifers are
in high demand with many of those
bringing north of $3,000 per head.
Many are out selling their steer
mates.
The fed cattle market seems to
be trending up as it’s trying to gain
momentum heading into spring. Fat
cattle in auctions are ranging from
$2.18 to $2.28. Country loads have
come back up in the North at $2.35.
Box beef seems to be sluggish here
lately with Choice down to $3.55.
Boxes will need to get back up to
keep this fat cattle market together.
Stock cows and bred heifers have
continued strong demand with
many selling for $3,500 to $4,500.
Supplies seem short on the bred fe
males and breeding bulls. Should
be a good year for the bull sales as
many producers took advantage of
high slaughter values.
The January rains in the Mid
west should bode well for farmers
looking to add pairs this spring.
Demand for pairs should be very
competitive, LRP rates for spring
calves are up to $2,300 per head. I
guarantee that many cattlemen will
lock in those rates.
Sale barns are selling high vol
umes of feeders as many producers
are running to capture the market.
Look for the supplies to be short
here much sooner than the past sev
eral years. As always, if you have
any marketing needs feel free to
call me or any of our sales repre
sentatives for upcoming sales.
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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MARKET RACES INTO FEBRUARY
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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February 2026 | THE STOCKMAN AG-EXTRA