Sale Barn Study | May/June 2025

Soaring into Spring and Summer

contributed article by Kirk Lynch

Lynch Livestock Inc. and Humeston Livestock Exchange, Humeston, Iowa

humestonlivestockexchange.com 

I hope this article finds you with fieldwork nearly complete and cows heading to pastures. I do not think there is any need to worry about the cattle market heading into summer as we continue to be in an unprecedented time in the cattle business with record prices continuing through the spring and heading into summer. Here is what we have been seeing in the barns.

The fat cattle market has been steady as of late with several cash cattle trading around the $2.10 range and most bringing around that in the barns as well with some extreme tops pushing up into the higher teens. It will be interesting to see here in the next couple of months as some new crop calves begin coming to town if there are enough of them to push this market down a little or the total lack of numbers does not affect the market at all.

Feeder cattle seem to continue to get higher by the day. Light calves are on fire as producers are trying to buy them to go to grass. Seeing several 700-pound steers in the $3 range, give or take on either side of it. Even the bigger yearling cattle, if you can find them, are bringing in the mid to high $2’s.

Breeding stock has been selling well as seeing several first calf heifer and young cow pairs bringing north of $4,000. Even aged cows, running aged cows, and aged cow pairs are pushing the $3,000 mark or higher. Seeing a few fall breds being priced in that $3,000 range as well.

The slaughter bull market has been on fire as well. A few reports of bulls bringing $2. I would imagine this will stay high throughout the summer as there are fewer bulls available. The smaller runs of cows have pushed that market up as well with several fat, high-yielding cows bringing $1.50 plus.

Wishing everyone a safe rest of the spring and a great start to the summer. If there is anything you ever need do not hesitate to give myself or the guys at the barn a call!

Kirk Lynch, Lynch Livestock Inc., Lineville, Iowa

Kirk is the beef division manager for Lynch Livestock Inc. and oversees all aspects of their backgrounding and cattle feeding operations throughout Iowa and Kansas. He is also deeply involved in the Humeston Livestock Exchange in Humeston, Iowa. In addition, Kirk and his wife Mary own and operate Heartland Simmentals in northeast Iowa, which is a seedstock operation that consists of 500 registered Simmental and Angus cows. They have four children: Gabrielle (11), Brayden (9), Vivian (7), and Bianca (4).