Cattle Market Pulse

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Market Report

Ash Flat, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock · usually sells Fridays

Sale of Friday, September 4, 2026

551 head sold ·Official USDA report · Past reports (244)

light 5-weight M&L 2 heifers $320.93/cwt +18.43 vs last sale · ≈ $1,682/hd at 524 lb · 13 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $336.31/cwt +16.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,793/hd at 533 lb · 11 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 2 heifers $311.56/cwt -2.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,784/hd at 573 lb · 11 head
Ash Flat 5-weight heifers sold at $324/cwt, running $13/cwt below the AR average ($337) and $20/cwt under Heber Springs. AR 5-weight heifers are down $49 from their early August peak of $385. What this means — computed from this report and its neighbors

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 551 831 911
Feeder cattle 487 694 746
Slaughter cattle 35 50 82
Replacement cattle 29 87 83

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, receipts of feeder cattle were moderate, with stronger demand noted for lightweight calves. Positive gains in cattle futures on Thursday also provided some support to the market. Feeder steers weighing under 500 pounds sold $30.00-$40.00 higher, while feeder steers over 500 pounds sold mostly steady. Feeder heifers weighing under 500 pounds sold $10.00-$15.00 higher, while feeder heifers over 500 pounds sold $5.00-$10.00 higher. Slaughter cattle sold $5.00-$15.00 lower. Severe drought conditions continue to place significant pressure on area producers, with little to no rainfall in sight. Deteriorating pasture and forage conditions are forcing many producers to market calves earlier than normal rather than retaining them through weaning. Continued dry conditions are expected to remain a major factor influencing producer marketing decisions and cattle supplies in the weeks ahead.

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
310 310 1 430.00 $430.00 $1,333 +25.00
445 445 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,535 -40.00
450–495 471 7 340.00–367.50 $350.67 $1,652 -7.04
475 thin fleshed 475 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,876 —
515–528 523 5 325.00–355.00 $346.99 $1,815 -2.83
550–595 564 4 330.00–345.00 $338.58 $1,910 +16.07
600–635 623 3 320.00–340.00 $333.58 $2,078 +3.62
692 692 3 305.00 $305.00 $2,111 -22.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 2 502.50 $502.50 $1,834 +58.59
400–440 426 8 445.00–475.00 $467.59 $1,992 +44.91
460–480 470 2 392.50–435.00 $413.30 $1,943 +25.26
515–540 528 2 370.00–375.00 $372.56 $1,967 +22.56
553–570 557 4 360.00–385.00 $378.61 $2,109 +9.98
673 673 2 340.00 $340.00 $2,288 +1.32

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–320 317 3 385.00–390.00 $388.37 $1,231 +11.65
355–385 377 9 340.00–375.00 $346.56 $1,307 -8.57
405–445 427 5 325.00–355.00 $337.88 $1,443 +16.63
415–445 thin fleshed 430 2 360.00–370.00 $365.17 $1,570 +15.17
455–498 479 6 325.00–357.50 $337.58 $1,617 +13.72
500–545 524 13 300.00–335.00 $320.93 $1,682 +18.43
560 thin fleshed 560 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,848 —
550–585 574 10 300.00–320.00 $309.72 $1,778 -4.66
625 625 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,875 -5.00
680 680 2 260.00–280.00 $270.00 $1,836 +10.08
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
348 348 3 400.00 $400.00 $1,392 ±0.00
405–440 423 2 360.00–370.00 $364.79 $1,543 +15.64
450–476 471 5 360.00–375.00 $362.87 $1,709 +31.67
490 490 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,690 -5.67
500 500 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,750 +11.01
550 550 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,705 -15.06
585–593 589 6 320.00–330.00 $325.83 $1,919 +0.77
600–610 605 2 320.00–330.00 $324.96 $1,966 +2.76
650–695 683 7 310.00–325.00 $316.34 $2,161 +6.26
705–725 715 2 280.00–310.00 $294.79 $2,108 -8.88
845 845 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,112 —
850–855 853 2 270.00–285.00 $277.48 $2,367 +17.48
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
513–541 533 11 335.00–340.00 $336.31 $1,793 +16.31
605–615 613 9 310.00–317.50 $313.33 $1,921 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,508 —
360–390 378 3 400.00–425.00 $413.02 $1,561 +18.02
410–445 421 5 375.00–425.00 $396.84 $1,671 +6.87
470 470 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,880 +25.08
555–575 565 2 310.00–325.00 $317.37 $1,793 -28.05
570–580 575 2 330.00–350.00 $339.91 $1,954 +32.41
605–645 615 4 305.00–307.50 $306.84 $1,887 +21.78
605–640 620 3 325.00–330.00 $326.63 $2,025 +41.57
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–340 330 3 350.00–380.00 $366.57 $1,210 -53.47
350 350 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,348 +6.98
365 thin fleshed 365 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,551 —
410 410 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,394 -10.00
470 thin fleshed 470 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,762 —
465–485 475 2 335.00–345.00 $340.11 $1,616 +2.65
505–545 526 4 300.00–345.00 $315.81 $1,661 -18.93
555–580 568 4 280.00–300.00 $292.62 $1,662 -27.38
625 625 2 290.00–320.00 $305.00 $1,906 -3.00
770 770 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,848 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
481 481 4 350.00 $350.00 $1,684 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–985 913 85-90% 2 90.00–91.00 $90.54 $827 -17.79
970–1115 1048 85-90% 3 103.00–111.00 $108.18 $1,134 —
1010–1085 1056 85-90% 4 124.00–134.00 $126.65 $1,337 -5.72
795–1285 1060 85-90% 4 137.00–149.00 $139.81 $1,482 +7.44
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1240 1158 80-85% 2 120.00–128.00 $123.71 $1,433 -19.87
1205–1485 1351 80-85% 5 130.00–140.00 $134.90 $1,822 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1540 1540 75-80% 1 132.00 $132.00 $2,033 +4.00
1640 1640 75-80% 1 150.00 $150.00 $2,460 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1465 1465 1 154.00 $154.00 $2,256 —
1640 1640 1 190.00 $190.00 $3,116 —
1515–2015 1763 4 170.00–180.00 $173.70 $3,062 -3.80

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985–1050 1018 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 220.00–245.00 $232.10 $2,363

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1030 1030 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1230 1230 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1350 1350 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1280 1280 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00

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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
1100 1100 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 -671.21
1100–1300 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 3,150.00–3,450.00 $3,287.50 —
1200 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,100.00 $3,100.00 —
1500 1500 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,400.00 $3,400.00 —

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Price trend

high 554.48 low 385.00 Sep 2025 Sep 2026

450–499 lb Medium and Large 1 steers — head-weighted average $/cwt by sale date, last 12 months.

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.

← Previous sale (Aug 28, 2026)

Markets near Ash Flat