Superior Livestock Opens the Year with Strong Cattle Demand
Superior Livestock’s first major sale of the new year is sending a clear signal about the strength of the cattle market, as feeders showed they are not shying away from bidding what it takes to secure cattle. The company kicked off 2026 with its Bell Ringer video auction, hosted out of Oklahoma City, providing one of the first major market tests of the year.
The scale of the sale underscored its importance to the industry. More than 72,500 head of cattle were offered during the auction, including calves, yearlings, and bred stock, representing consignments from 28 states. With that level of volume and geographic diversity, the sale offered a strong snapshot of current market sentiment.
Buyer participation was also broad-based, highlighting healthy competition. A total of 207 different buyers successfully purchased cattle during the sale, indicating there was no monopoly on buying power and reinforcing confidence across the feeding sector.
Prices reflected that confidence, particularly in the feeder cattle categories. Six- to 750-pound steer and heifer cattle brought prices in the range of $408 to $457, demonstrating continued willingness among buyers to pay for quality cattle with performance potential.
Demand was especially strong for lighter, weaned calves. Weaned calves weighing four- to 550-pounds brought prices around $512, with top-end sales reaching as high as $6.25 per pound. Those figures highlight the premium buyers are placing on properly managed, weaned cattle as they look ahead to feeding margins later in the year.
Market observers noted that the aggressive bidding was driven by multiple factors, including tighter cattle supplies, strong feeder demand, and optimism surrounding beef markets. The wide participation from buyers across regions further suggests that confidence is not isolated to one segment of the industry.
As the first major Superior Livestock sale of the year, the Bell Ringer auction set a positive tone for the weeks ahead. With competitive bidding, strong prices, and widespread buyer engagement, the sale reinforces expectations that the cattle market will remain active as producers and feeders move further into 2026.
Audio Reporting by Mark Oppold for Southeast AgNet.