Cattle Market Pulse

Alabama Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Weekly Wtd Avg, Alabama · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 3, 2021

7,738 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Alabama Weekly Cattle Auction Summary report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 2 heifers $122.59/cwt -2.58 vs last sale · ≈ $576/hd at 470 lb · 137 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $125.47/cwt -2.53 vs last sale · ≈ $657/hd at 524 lb · 130 head
light 4-weight M&L 2 bulls $138.74/cwt -4.25 vs last sale · ≈ $590/hd at 425 lb · 126 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,738 9,934 7,644
Feeder cattle 5,724 7,412 6,162
Slaughter cattle 1,131 1,526 827
Replacement cattle 883 996 655

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to one week ago: Slaughter cows and bulls sold mostly steady. Feeder classes sold steady to 4.00 lower. Replacement cows and pairs sold mostly steady. Trade moderate with moderate demand on feeder cattle. Year to date receipts totaled 195,100 compared to 165,886 a year ago.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–345 339 4 162.00–175.00 $170.60 $578 -2.03
355 355 1 146.00 $146.00 $518 -0.63
400–440 420 16 145.00–167.00 $153.49 $645 -2.27
455–495 476 35 135.00–150.00 $139.18 $662 -12.14
500–535 514 38 129.00–147.00 $143.64 $738 -3.10
530 value added 530 4 153.00 $153.00 $811 +2.00
575 value added 575 1 147.00 $147.00 $845 —
555–598 577 65 125.00–144.00 $131.98 $762 -7.83
605–648 636 92 123.00–140.00 $132.64 $844 -1.24
650–685 668 28 114.00–132.00 $125.73 $840 -2.89
706–745 718 20 107.00–124.00 $121.23 $870 -5.45
753–795 772 27 109.00–120.00 $116.72 $901 -3.44
855–875 865 9 104.00–115.00 $113.76 $984 -1.36
910 value added 910 1 104.00 $104.00 $946 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 176.00 $176.00 $405 —
300–335 319 4 130.00–140.00 $134.92 $430 -16.04
365–385 375 12 130.00–160.00 $142.70 $535 -13.96
405–445 425 26 124.00–160.00 $145.57 $619 -2.94
450–498 479 41 125.00–156.00 $138.94 $666 -5.55
500–545 521 39 120.00–146.00 $134.87 $703 -2.17
550–595 572 40 115.00–142.00 $134.95 $772 +0.57
595 595 12 129.00 $129.00 $768 -5.38
600–645 621 27 120.00–135.00 $125.87 $782 -3.19
650–690 668 31 109.00–132.00 $124.28 $830 +0.47
710–745 732 13 110.00–123.00 $114.79 $840 -4.69
752 752 3 120.00 $120.00 $902 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–340 323 3 126.00–150.00 $140.48 $454 -2.71
355–395 376 11 119.00–139.00 $130.08 $489 -11.51
400–445 423 14 115.00–145.00 $135.37 $573 -5.76
460–495 480 11 128.00–147.00 $134.08 $644 -8.59
515–545 527 7 112.00–132.00 $126.37 $666 -4.86
560–575 573 7 122.00–125.00 $122.43 $702 -3.54
625–630 628 2 115.00–121.00 $117.99 $741 -1.90
655 655 2 115.00 $115.00 $753 +5.00
730–740 735 2 110.00–112.00 $111.01 $816 -3.99

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–295 271 6 125.00–140.00 $135.69 $368 -12.82
300–345 326 15 134.00–150.00 $137.69 $449 -1.45
355–385 371 23 127.50–155.00 $132.70 $492 -7.34
400–445 416 84 125.00–142.50 $131.56 $547 -2.52
430–435 433 2 135.00–154.00 $144.45 $625 +10.37
450–497 475 100 123.00–142.00 $129.81 $617 +0.49
500–545 524 130 112.00–134.00 $125.47 $657 -2.44
550–595 573 85 110.00–130.00 $119.91 $687 -2.59
600–645 622 71 109.00–125.00 $117.39 $730 -1.01
650–685 658 62 107.00–119.00 $110.72 $729 -7.22
715–745 730 20 101.00–117.00 $106.19 $775 -8.85
753–770 758 31 98.00–110.00 $106.55 $808 -1.81
771 value added 771 13 108.00 $108.00 $833 —
825–845 829 13 95.00–105.50 $103.27 $856 -2.64
847 847 29 112.00 $112.00 $949 +6.09
855–875 865 2 85.00–88.00 $86.52 $748 -17.36
900–935 918 2 95.00–97.00 $96.02 $881 —
960 960 11 103.50 $103.50 $994 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–220 218 2 160.00–165.00 $162.53 $354 +21.34
260–285 271 4 130.00–147.00 $136.53 $370 -8.60
300–345 324 34 120.00–150.00 $134.14 $435 +0.04
355–395 371 70 116.00–142.00 $128.22 $476 -4.76
400–448 426 116 113.00–140.00 $126.67 $540 -2.27
450–495 470 137 110.00–133.00 $122.59 $576 -2.58
500–545 525 80 108.00–127.00 $118.52 $622 -2.51
550–595 572 57 105.00–122.00 $115.36 $660 -0.55
600–640 618 36 101.00–123.00 $111.04 $686 +1.85
628 fancy 628 4 122.00 $122.00 $766 —
655–695 675 21 95.00–112.00 $102.35 $691 -3.61
705–745 720 16 93.00–109.00 $103.57 $746 +5.47
755–792 783 10 90.00–100.00 $94.01 $736 +4.01
805 805 2 85.00 $85.00 $684 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 3 110.00–120.00 $116.00 $273 -51.00
265–295 283 4 125.00–147.00 $132.27 $374 +1.22
305–345 316 24 100.00–150.00 $128.72 $407 -1.63
350–395 370 53 112.00–140.00 $129.60 $480 +1.75
400–445 428 50 108.00–132.00 $121.88 $522 -1.62
450–495 470 31 97.00–125.00 $116.07 $546 -3.28
500–545 526 28 97.50–120.00 $112.59 $592 -0.79
550–580 567 9 89.00–114.00 $106.04 $601 +3.54
620–635 626 4 100.00–107.00 $104.23 $652 +4.43
665–670 668 2 90.00–100.00 $94.98 $634 —
720–740 731 4 85.00–93.00 $90.48 $661 +1.86
770 770 2 90.00 $90.00 $693 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–290 273 8 145.00–180.00 $154.88 $423 +1.17
300–345 327 47 130.00–175.00 $145.66 $476 -4.70
350–395 371 64 122.00–165.00 $141.56 $525 -5.43
400–445 425 126 118.00–155.00 $138.74 $590 -4.25
450–495 475 94 115.00–146.00 $132.26 $628 -3.36
500–545 523 100 114.00–136.00 $126.16 $660 -3.49
550–595 573 68 108.00–131.00 $119.26 $683 -3.09
610–645 630 37 100.00–127.00 $113.19 $713 -5.34
650–690 671 35 92.50–117.00 $106.99 $718 -7.54
705–745 730 14 95.00–104.00 $99.77 $728 -4.98
770–790 776 4 90.00–95.00 $93.75 $728 -13.81
835 835 1 86.00 $86.00 $718 -1.00
855 855 1 86.00 $86.00 $735 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–235 218 2 150.00–180.00 $163.79 $357 -9.78
250–270 262 6 157.50–180.00 $165.14 $433 +2.02
300–345 324 20 147.00–170.00 $159.00 $515 +3.87
350–395 372 46 135.00–170.00 $152.63 $568 -3.52
400–445 421 64 128.00–160.00 $145.00 $610 -1.77
455 fancy 455 1 162.00 $162.00 $737 —
450–495 467 55 126.00–156.00 $138.00 $644 -5.14
500–545 514 50 120.00–146.00 $130.36 $670 -5.69
550–595 576 51 115.00–137.00 $126.17 $727 -3.71
600–645 623 44 111.00–127.00 $122.45 $763 -1.04
650–680 664 18 109.00–125.00 $114.66 $761 -0.11
700–745 718 20 102.50–115.00 $109.49 $786 -7.14
765–795 781 11 95.00–105.00 $101.64 $794 -3.11
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 180.00 $180.00 $378 —
265 265 1 140.00 $140.00 $371 -15.49
300–345 323 18 126.00–160.00 $140.31 $453 -3.87
355–395 376 29 115.00–156.00 $143.53 $540 -1.10
400–445 423 49 108.00–145.00 $132.43 $560 -4.36
455–495 479 35 113.00–135.00 $127.83 $612 -0.89
500–545 522 46 108.00–128.00 $118.05 $616 -2.34
555–590 570 18 97.00–120.00 $110.87 $632 -2.93
605–645 625 16 87.00–115.00 $103.56 $647 -8.39
655–695 675 6 95.00–111.00 $102.80 $694 +1.06
705–725 710 9 84.00–106.00 $90.27 $641 +0.27
755–780 768 2 101.00–108.00 $104.56 $803 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905 905 80-85% 1 55.00 $55.00 $498 —
850–1100 1034 80-85% 4 63.00–65.00 $64.25 $664 —
805–1880 1088 80-85% 89 54.00–70.00 $61.20 $666 +0.72
840–1715 1163 80-85% 273 58.00–77.00 $67.50 $785 +0.87
925–1475 1235 80-85% 87 66.00–85.00 $74.14 $916 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720–1175 943 85-90% 43 43.00–54.00 $50.51 $476 -0.17
950 950 85-90% 1 48.00 $48.00 $456 —
725–1190 1014 85-90% 59 50.00–67.00 $60.52 $614 +3.69
460–1285 1018 85-90% 95 46.00–63.00 $56.12 $571 -0.71
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1225 1125 75-80% 3 71.00–72.00 $71.33 $802 —
1075–1395 1214 75-80% 5 64.00–68.00 $66.60 $809 —
1025–1815 1322 75-80% 56 66.00–83.00 $73.07 $966 -0.01
985–1735 1338 75-80% 111 56.00–75.00 $67.90 $909 +7.25
1125–1755 1406 75-80% 18 54.00–67.00 $61.27 $861 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1915 1387 22 70.00–87.00 $79.88 $1,108 —
1150–2435 1661 60 82.00–95.00 $88.22 $1,465 —
1530–2165 1787 33 91.00–100.00 $95.60 $1,708 —

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Stock Cows

Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 22 425.00–625.00 $518.18
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
495–590 546 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 325.00–400.00 $359.38
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
845–990 901 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 500.00–625.00 $546.05

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990–1045 fancy 1026 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,000.00–1,075.00 $1,031.15
1000–1070 1027 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 925.00–1,000.00 $976.11
945–1365 1143 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 22 750.00–1,325.00 $972.30
1015–1390 1187 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 750.00–1,125.00 $974.89
1260–1295 fancy 1272 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,100.00–1,125.00 $1,108.49
1565 fancy 1565 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 685.00–750.00 $728.33
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 27 600.00–1,175.00 $923.52
— fancy — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 42 750.00–1,125.00 $936.31
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 820.00–830.00 $825.00
— fancy — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,125.00 $1,125.00
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 25 575.00–950.00 $744.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800 800 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 550.00 $550.00
845–970 893 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 600.00–775.00 $672.92
850–990 933 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 850.00–900.00 $875.98
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 650.00–725.00 $690.00
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 320.00–575.00 $407.27
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 480.00–675.00 $546.11
Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920–1070 995 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 700.00–825.00 $757.79
1050–1170 1100 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,100.00–1,275.00 $1,178.85
890–1290 1132 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 780.00–1,050.00 $928.41
— — Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 525.00–880.00 $657.86
— — Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 625.00–1,000.00 $887.50
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 600.00–885.00 $751.25
— — Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 860.00 $860.00
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
775 775 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00
1055 1055 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,500.00 $1,500.00
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,000.00–1,100.00 $1,070.00
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1090–1215 thin fleshed 1142 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 750.00–850.00 $790.69 —
1085–1645 1276 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 24 1,000.00–1,625.00 $1,388.79 +201.78
1175–1415 1295 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,400.00–1,550.00 $1,468.05 —
1270–1485 1378 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,325.00–1,425.00 $1,378.90 +417.33
1460 1460 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00 +297.31
1500–1515 1508 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,600.00–1,625.00 $1,612.56 —
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,350.00–1,425.00 $1,387.50 —
— fancy — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 22 1,150.00–1,525.00 $1,325.00 —
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 1,275.00–1,325.00 $1,295.00 —
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 100 800.00–1,350.00 $1,005.00 —
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 10 900.00–975.00 $930.00 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
810–1425 1079 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 54 1,000.00–1,275.00 $1,151.23 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 17 700.00–900.00 $764.71 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 18 1,125.00–1,225.00 $1,166.67 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
755–1050 958 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 600.00–1,225.00 $836.55 —
1005–1015 1008 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 850.00–1,150.00 $975.58 +15.01
1325 1325 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
— — Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 23 550.00–950.00 $703.26 —
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 20 650.00–750.00 $710.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 350.00 $350.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
905–945 918 (<2 yrs)Open 4 1,000.00–1,500.00 $1,291.11 —
1265 1265 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.