Price records

The highest USDA has ever reported · and where the market sits today
Feeder steers, 800–900 lb
89.3%
USDA · high 369.40 · Oct 13, 2025Nov 2
Feeder steers, 500–600 lb
83.1%
USDA · high 490.83 · Apr 6Nov 2
Feeder heifers, 500–600 lb
82.4%
USDA · high 437.65 · Jan 26Nov 2
Cow cutout
81.4%
USDA · high 364.97 · May 20Nov 3

Today against the record

7 series

Nothing is at a record this week. The closest is feeder steers, 800–900 lb at 89.3% of its high, set Oct 13, 2025.

About these records

These are nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. A 2004 record and a 2026 one are not the same money, and the gap matters most on boxed beef, where the window is more than twenty years. Adjusting would need CPI, which is not USDA data, and this site keeps to USDA sources — so the figures stand as reported and the caveat stands with them.
Fed cattle is deliberately absent. USDA files more than one row per day for a single class and selling basis, and until it is settled which of them is the quoted series, a maximum over them would be an arbitrary number sitting under the word "record". The fed cattle desk handles that properly.

Record highs and today’s price

Closest to its own high first
SeriesRecord highWhenLatest% of highRecords from
Feeder steers, 800–900 lb369.40Oct 13, 2025329.9989.3%Aug 28, 2017
Feeder steers, 500–600 lbThe weight the trade quotes. Weekly, every reported auction.490.83Apr 6408.0783.1%Aug 28, 2017
Feeder heifers, 500–600 lb437.65Jan 26360.8182.4%Aug 28, 2017
Cow cutoutWhat the grinding beef in a cull cow is worth.364.97May 20296.9381.4%May 9, 2022
Select boxed beef cutout452.97May 11, 2020358.3779.1%Jan 5, 2004
Choice boxed beef cutoutThe afternoon close, which is the one the trade quotes.475.39May 12, 2020365.2376.8%Jan 5, 2004
Choice–Select spreadWhat grading is worth on the whole carcass — it pays in the middle meats.39.74Jun 21, 20216.8617.3%Jan 5, 2004
"Record" means as far back as USDA's series goes, and they do not all start together — the last column says when each one begins. Boxed beef prices run to 2004; the feeder rollup only to 2017. A 2017-deep record is a real record and a much shorter memory, and the page will not blur the two. All figures are $/cwt as USDA reported them USDA.

Record lows

Same windows
SeriesRecord lowWhenLatest is above it by
Feeder steers, 800–900 lb112.87Apr 6, 2020192%
Feeder steers, 500–600 lb138.27Sep 9, 2019195%
Feeder heifers, 500–600 lb122.47Sep 9, 2019195%
Cow cutout186.77Dec 8, 202259%
Select boxed beef cutout117.23Feb 12, 2004206%
Choice boxed beef cutout123.92Feb 12, 2004195%
Choice–Select spread−3.80Mar 25+$10.66/cwt