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Illinois Feeder Cattle Prices

Feeder steer and heifer cash prices near Chicago, IL by weight class. Source: USDA AMS MARS Report 2489. Updated weekly (Friday releases).

USDA AMS Report 2489 · Weekly (Friday) · Iowa / Southern Minnesota benchmark
Sample Data Free preview — 1 weight class shown. Pro unlocks all weight classes, heifer prices, and trend history.
Feeder Steers (500–600 lb)
Iowa / S. Minnesota · Medium & Large #1
$278.25 / cwt
USDA AMS 2489
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Feeder Steers (700–800 lb)
Iowa / S. Minnesota · Medium & Large #1
$256.50 / cwt
USDA AMS 2489
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Cattle Feeding Margin
At current feeder + fed prices
+$142 / head
Derived — USDA AMS + NASS
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Illinois Feeder Cattle Market Context

Illinois is primarily a feedlot finishing state for corn-fed cattle. The central Illinois Corn Belt — Logan, McLean, and Livingston counties — supports efficient, large-scale feeding operations that take advantage of tight corn basis and proximity to Chicago packing capacity.

Key Markets and Buyers Near Chicago

Midamar Corporation; Excel Corporation; Chicago Union Stock Yards historical legacy

Understanding the Iowa/S. Minnesota Benchmark

USDA AMS Report 2489 reports feeder cattle prices for the Iowa/Southern Minnesota region — the primary feeder procurement zone for the central Corn Belt feedlot industry. Illinois feeder prices trade at a basis to this benchmark that reflects distance to feedlots, local forage conditions, and regional demand from backgrounding operations.

Related Illinois Livestock Pages

Illinois Fed Cattle Prices
Finished steer and heifer cash prices
Cattle Feeding Margin Signal
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All Livestock Prices
Fed cattle, feeder cattle, hogs

Track Illinois Feeder Cattle Prices Weekly

GrainBrief Pro delivers all feeder weight classes, heifer prices, and Cattle Feeding Margin each Friday after USDA releases Report 2489. Price alerts fire when feeder bids move more than 5% week-over-week.

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Page reviewed: 2026-06-03 Topic: illinois feeder cattle prices Sources: USDA AMS, cattle auction references, corn feed cost context, and GrainBrief livestock margin models

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