December closeouts from Kansas feedlots made an uncharacteristic downturn that put the result closer to last year and the 2029-2023 average.
The data comes from the Kansas State University Extension service, which polls a select list of Kansas feedlots each month for production data. The raw data is submitted to the Livestock Marketing Information Service in Denver, where it is compiled to arrive at the activity of the “average” Kansas feedlot and published on the LMIC website.
CLOSEOUTS DROP
Feedlot closeouts, or sales of individual fed cattle to beef packers, in December from that “average” Kansas feedlot totaled 4,235 head. This was down 675, or 13.7%, from 4,910 in November, down 371, or 8.05%, from 4,606 a year earlier and down 760, or 15.2%, from the previous five-year average of 4,995.
The drop in closeouts from November isn’t what it seems at first, a market analyst said. The December rate was coming back down from an extraordinary high in November, which was the third largest monthly closeout rate of 2025.
If closeout rates return to more normal patterns in January, the number of fed cattle going to packers should rise to begin a monthly decline through April, the data showed.
FINAL WEIGHTS RISE TO 2025 HIGHS
The final weights of steers and heifers from Kansas feedlots in December were up to the annual highs, with steers reported at 1,569 pounds and heifers at 1,394 pounds.
For steers, that would be up 35 pounds, or 2.28%, from November’s 1,534 pounds, up 55, or 3.63%, from 1,514 pounds a year ago and up 104, or 7.10%, from the 2019-2023 average of 1,465 pounds.
For heifers, that would be up seven pounds, or 0.50%, from November’s 1,387 pounds, up 37, or 2.73%, from December 2024’s 1,357 pounds and up 73, or 5.53%, from the previous five-year average of 1,321 pounds.
Final weights in January could be steady to lower, if the seasonal pattern holds true, the data showed. From there, they could decline through April.
DAYS ON FEED DECLINE SEASONALLY
The number of days December closed out cattle spent on feed at the “average” Kansas feedlot declined seasonally to 179 for steers and 177 for heifers, the data showed.
For steers, that would be down eight days, or 4.28%, from 187 in November but up nine, or 5.29%, from 170 a year ago and up eight, or 4.68%, from the 2019-2023 average of 171.
For heifers, that would be down five days, or 2.75%, from November’s 182 days but up 12, or 7.27%, from 2025’s 165 and up nine, or 5.36%, from the previous five-year average of 168.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $240.65 per cwt to $246.00, compared with last week’s range of $236.32 to $242.85 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $376.57 per cwt to $385.81, compared with $369.10 to $380.59.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was down $1.08 per cwt at $364.84 while select was up $0.45 at $363.03. The choice/select spread narrowed to $1.81 from $3.84 with 77 loads of fabricated product and 25 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $424.97 per cwt, and 50% beef was $155.16.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $0.98 to $1.12 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.31 1/4, up $0.03 3/4.
No live cattle delivery intentions were posted Thursday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Wednesday was $373.87 per cwt, down $0.49. This compares with Thursday’s Mar contract settlement of $365.72, down $1.72.