By 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.
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