As winter gives way to a busy spring sale and calving season, all signs continue to point toward another strong year for cattle producers and more specifically those using registered Angus genetics. The close of the 2025 Fiscal Year and the early indicators of the 2026 Fiscal Year have underscored what many breeders are experiencing first-hand – the marketplace continues to demand the predictability provided by registered Angus genetics. 

The data from the first quarter of the Association’s fiscal year (Oct. 1 - Dec. 31) exemplifies that; average bull prices were up $2,400, even as producers sold 1,000 more head. Females were up an additional $1,800. Registrations followed suit, with a 9.5% increase in the first quarter – a number that gets even more impressive when you isolate bull transfers which were up 11.5%. 

January events including the National Angus Bull Sale show promise the trend will extend through the spring sale season. With a diverse selection of genetics to choose from, buyers pushed the national sale’s average to the highest recorded in the 87-year history of the sale – $22,276. 

“This is historically one of the first sales of the sale season as we kick off the spring 2026 bull sale season,” said Jeff Mafi, Association regional manager and national sale manager. “And of course it's exciting times for everybody, but this sale kind of sets the standards. That's the mark and what a great way to start 2026.” 

The commercial sector indicates it will follow suit. In 2025, buyers paid a $20.92 cwt premium for AngusLink^® program cattle. While we will have to wait until the summer video sale season to see the true force of the 2026 buying power – early sales show continued support. In late January, verified steers in Beaver, Oklahoma, sold for an average of $3,095/head in a special AngusLink event at the Beaver County Stockyard. 

As the American Angus Association^® Board of Directors prepares for second quarter meetings in St. Joseph, the market and the continued advancement of the Angus Advantage will be a focus of business. Newly elected President Jim Brinkley will lead discussions February 9 - 12. The agenda and subsequent meeting highlights are available in the Angus.org Member Center during each meeting period.