Cattle Market Pulse

Arkansas Cattle Auction LLC Market Report

Searcy, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, August 20, 2024

870 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Arkansas Cattle Auction LLC report →

light 4-weight M&L 2 heifers $250.04/cwt -17.81 vs last sale · ≈ $1,052/hd at 421 lb · 23 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $236.14/cwt -26.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,230/hd at 521 lb · 18 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 2 steers $267.41/cwt -13.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,256/hd at 470 lb · 17 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 870 919 436
Feeder cattle 709 700 313
Slaughter cattle 101 129 90
Replacement cattle 60 90 33

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle sold mostly uneven compared to the previous week. With cattle futures trading in the red today, buyers seemed to be staying more on the cautious side. Feeder steers and feeder heifers 500lb to 600lb sold $15.00 lower. Feeder bulls selling more unevenly sold $22.00 to $23.00 lower. Slaughter cattle sold steady to $2.00 lower.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 thin fleshed 260 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,066 —
305 thin fleshed 305 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,022 —
330–345 337 3 270.00–300.00 $290.20 $978 -27.06
358 358 2 265.00 $265.00 $949 -45.72
355–395 379 5 280.00–305.00 $297.39 $1,127 -13.33
385–390 thin fleshed 388 2 310.00–317.50 $313.73 $1,217 -31.27
420–440 thin fleshed 430 3 300.00–307.50 $304.22 $1,308 —
405–448 435 5 262.50–282.50 $271.31 $1,180 -6.91
460–465 thin fleshed 463 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,389 -2.50
455–495 469 14 250.00–270.00 $265.07 $1,243 -10.70
495 495 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,163 -40.77
510–525 thin fleshed 517 3 277.50–285.00 $280.84 $1,452 —
525–545 537 3 242.50–252.50 $248.39 $1,334 -22.67
550–585 562 5 230.00–245.00 $238.99 $1,343 -20.17
550–590 thin fleshed 570 2 250.00–270.00 $259.65 $1,480 -15.35
555–599 value added 593 7 241.00–260.00 $243.54 $1,444 —
605 605 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,270 -30.00
625–640 633 2 220.00–230.00 $224.94 $1,424 -15.06
650–685 668 2 225.00–237.50 $231.09 $1,544 -16.41
740 value added 740 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,665 —
765 765 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,473 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,180 +25.31
395 395 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,244 +15.00
435 435 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,305 -17.10
440 440 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,232 -37.10
460–495 478 4 275.00–307.50 $289.51 $1,384 -22.71
510–528 524 6 280.00–287.50 $285.03 $1,494 -13.57
540–545 543 3 260.00–265.00 $261.66 $1,421 -36.94
560–575 562 10 260.00–280.00 $267.38 $1,503 -14.00
585–595 588 3 237.50–250.00 $243.37 $1,431 -13.63
620 620 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,457 -32.14
605–645 621 8 240.00–264.00 $254.95 $1,583 -12.19
653 653 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,730 -0.56
670–695 680 3 227.50–232.50 $229.97 $1,564 -35.59
700–745 723 2 225.00–230.00 $227.42 $1,644 -23.82
1058 1058 3 189.00 $189.00 $2,000 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,286 ±0.00
488 488 2 277.50 $277.50 $1,354 -12.50
503–545 523 12 250.00–275.00 $262.11 $1,371 —
560 560 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,484 —
593 value added 593 2 263.00 $263.00 $1,560 -16.34
600–632 619 10 231.00–249.00 $240.76 $1,490 —
650–695 673 2 235.00–240.00 $237.58 $1,599 —
682 value added 682 7 230.00 $230.00 $1,569 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 270.00 $270.00 $783 ±0.00
305 305 1 245.00 $245.00 $747 -29.39
305–323 318 4 250.00–275.00 $262.35 $834 -12.04
360–395 381 5 250.00–272.50 $259.40 $988 -19.17
418 thin fleshed 418 4 263.00 $263.00 $1,099 -27.00
400–445 420 18 235.00–260.00 $248.55 $1,044 -19.94
445 445 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,001 -17.50
455 thin fleshed 455 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,194 —
450–490 467 13 227.50–252.50 $240.85 $1,125 -9.63
500–548 528 8 220.00–245.00 $231.72 $1,223 -13.37
550 550 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,182 —
570–575 thin fleshed 573 2 230.00–235.00 $232.49 $1,332 —
550–591 578 11 205.00–225.00 $220.06 $1,272 -4.94
625–630 628 2 212.50–215.00 $213.75 $1,342 —
655 655 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,343 —
760 thin fleshed 760 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,520 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,002 —
400–415 407 9 262.50–275.00 $265.63 $1,081 —
423 423 2 262.50 $262.50 $1,110 —
470 470 5 230.00–255.00 $240.00 $1,128 —
500–542 521 18 225.00–245.00 $236.14 $1,230 —
570 570 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,311 —
610–620 617 9 227.00–230.00 $227.33 $1,403 -2.67
788 value added 788 2 207.50 $207.50 $1,635 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,005 -23.72
350–370 360 2 285.00–287.50 $286.22 $1,030 -25.59
405–445 423 3 267.50–282.50 $277.15 $1,172 -15.53
460–485 473 4 257.50–267.50 $260.56 $1,232 -14.32
505–535 515 4 225.00–237.50 $230.10 $1,185 -32.37
570–580 574 4 228.00–235.00 $232.75 $1,336 -19.26
565–590 581 4 212.50–220.00 $218.10 $1,267 -21.90
615 615 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,245 -27.43
605–645 625 2 225.00–230.00 $227.42 $1,421 -18.00
650–690 668 8 215.00–235.00 $223.16 $1,491 -13.06
650–690 670 2 205.00–215.00 $209.85 $1,406 -26.37
735 735 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,470 —
750–780 762 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,524 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 340.00 $340.00 $867 —
305–325 316 7 280.00–310.00 $294.23 $930 -21.40
310–330 thin fleshed 318 3 317.50–322.50 $320.85 $1,020 -34.15
360 thin fleshed 360 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,098 -22.50
355–380 371 7 270.00–302.50 $287.91 $1,068 +17.91
420 420 2 250.00–252.50 $251.25 $1,055 -28.04
420–430 thin fleshed 423 3 287.50–297.00 $291.54 $1,233 —
420–445 434 10 257.50–285.00 $272.00 $1,180 -7.29
455–470 thin fleshed 463 2 275.00–277.50 $276.23 $1,279 —
455–490 479 9 237.50–260.00 $249.32 $1,194 -19.66
500–545 517 10 240.00–265.00 $253.44 $1,310 -17.39
555–585 565 9 220.00–242.50 $230.44 $1,302 -30.78
685–690 687 3 200.00–212.50 $207.48 $1,425 -34.93
785 785 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,492 —
805 805 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,590 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–420 418 2 300.00–305.00 $302.49 $1,264 -18.51
435–445 440 3 265.00–282.50 $275.78 $1,213 -27.55
450–480 465 2 277.50–285.00 $281.13 $1,307 -20.55
525–545 535 2 240.00–242.50 $241.27 $1,291 -60.28
535 535 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,364 -46.55
550 550 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,279 -47.50
570–590 582 3 237.50–242.50 $239.13 $1,392 -8.33
610 610 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,372 -40.00
600–645 624 5 233.00–246.00 $239.74 $1,496 -25.26
680–690 685 2 212.50–220.00 $216.28 $1,482 -53.72
730 730 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,679 -10.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–487 478 9 275.00–280.00 $276.66 $1,322 -7.25
559–580 563 6 237.50–260.00 $256.13 $1,442 —
625 625 1 227.50 $227.50 $1,422 —
625–640 633 2 230.00–237.50 $233.71 $1,479 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–1020 951 85-90% 5 90.00–100.00 $95.95 $912 -28.03
825–1230 981 85-90% 8 104.00–115.00 $110.54 $1,084 -13.44
820–1155 994 85-90% 11 116.00–126.00 $121.69 $1,210 -2.29
1055–1625 1217 85-90% 9 129.00–138.00 $132.87 $1,617 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100 1100 80-85% 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,430 —
1080–1380 1257 80-85% 9 134.00–139.00 $136.37 $1,714 —
1195–1555 1288 80-85% 5 142.00–152.00 $146.12 $1,882 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240–1510 1436 75-80% 6 130.00–134.00 $131.01 $1,881 —
1560–1685 1617 75-80% 3 125.00–129.00 $126.95 $2,053 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130–1790 1433 6 135.00–153.00 $146.26 $2,096 —
1705–1960 1828 6 162.00–173.00 $167.64 $3,064 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790–1000 927 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 139.00–154.00 $144.68 $1,341
790–1040 943 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 149.00–167.50 $157.11 $1,482

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945–995 970 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,700.00–1,775.00 $1,738.47
905–1260 1095 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,400.00–2,275.00 $1,910.22
1045–1220 1105 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,250.00–1,650.00 $1,413.05
1112–1259 1179 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 10 2,000.00–2,635.00 $2,451.74
1255 1255 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1085–1435 1258 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,195.00–2,375.00 $1,863.53
1280 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
940 940 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,335
1020–1220 1120 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 145.00–154.00 $149.90 $1,679
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865 865 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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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
1000 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 -228.23

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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.