USDA Updates Cash Cattle Reports to Improve Market Transparency

(NAFB.com) The U.S. Department of Agriculture is updating its Livestock Mandatory Reporting cash cattle reports. This aims to improve market transparency and provide more reliable pricing information to producers and livestock sellers, among others. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the changes are part of the administration s implementation of executive orders focused on supporting ranchers and promoting fair competition in livestock markets. Rollins says maintaining reliable and transparent price information is critical to a well-functioning cattle market. She adds the changes do just that and make the best use of the AMS market information. USDA said negotiated cash cattle trade has fallen from more than 50% of transactions in 2005 to less than 18% in 2025 as formula-based purchasing has expanded, creating reporting and confidentiality challenges. Beginning Oct. 26, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will publish a new regional cash cattle report combining data from Col