ABSTRACT
Market price information for live animals is handled by the Market News Service of the Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. However, during the interim a broad-based market news program had been established by the USDA and private firms. Price data are from two sources: public markets and reports of private transactions. The sources and forms of information available electronically are evolving rapidly and must be determined at the time of intended use. For fed cattle it is 40,000 pounds of choice grade steers to be delivered at specified times and locations. This specificity simplifies price reporting because there is no ambiguity over what is being reported. Price collecting and dissemination is often done in cooperation with state agencies. Price data are reported for both live animals and carcasses as well as for selected cuts. Live animal prices are reported by the Agricultural Marketing Service and Agricultural Statistics Service, both of the USDA.
