Cattle Market Pulse

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Market Report

Ash Flat, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, January 6, 2023

1,571 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Ash Flat Livestock Auction report →

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $216.04/cwt +46.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,107/hd at 512 lb · 85 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $230.32/cwt +46.99 vs last sale · ≈ $960/hd at 417 lb · 79 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $207.14/cwt ≈ $815/hd at 394 lb · 72 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,571 913 0
Feeder cattle 1,457 128 0
Slaughter cattle 70 335 0
Replacement cattle 44 450 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: There were not enough fair comparisons from last weeks light run in feeder cattle to establish a trend. However, on a strong supply of value added and weaned cattle demand was very strong most classes of feeders and there for were trending much higher than the previous week. Many of the classes of feeders hit levels that have not been seen in a long time. Slaughter cows and bulls were both steady to 4.00 higher. Over all, supply was heavy and demand was very strong with a large buyer attendence that helped push prices higher.

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
290–295 293 2 215.00–225.00 $219.96 $644 —
316 value added 316 4 245.00 $245.00 $774 —
320 320 1 215.00 $215.00 $688 —
355–395 377 6 187.50–205.00 $199.39 $752 +7.24
400–440 value added 416 66 199.00–255.00 $236.03 $982 —
410–445 422 13 180.00–222.50 $201.36 $850 +18.03
450–495 value added 458 14 185.00–217.50 $212.07 $971 —
450–485 476 8 180.00–213.00 $202.63 $965 +21.09
500–541 value added 512 81 189.00–229.00 $217.18 $1,112 —
500–545 521 4 175.00–201.00 $192.98 $1,005 +22.98
550–570 value added 558 3 183.00–190.00 $187.37 $1,046 —
555–590 569 6 161.00–177.50 $165.88 $944 -16.12
608–620 611 4 161.00 $161.00 $984 +4.00
625–639 value added 634 33 175.00–184.50 $181.63 $1,152 —
651 value added 651 10 186.00 $186.00 $1,211 —
655–683 675 17 159.00–167.50 $163.41 $1,103 —
700–723 value added 712 24 160.00–175.00 $168.92 $1,203 —
765 765 1 142.50 $142.50 $1,090 —
800–845 822 9 145.00–160.00 $155.89 $1,281 —
855 855 1 158.00 $158.00 $1,351 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363–375 367 3 160.00–170.00 $166.59 $611 —
410 value added 410 1 184.00 $184.00 $754 —
430 430 1 170.00 $170.00 $731 —
485 value added 485 1 191.00 $191.00 $926 —
510–535 523 2 146.00–155.00 $150.61 $788 +5.61
515–545 value added 526 9 160.00–167.50 $164.38 $865 —
555 555 1 149.00 $149.00 $827 —
580 value added 580 1 168.00 $168.00 $974 —
585 585 2 130.00–134.00 $132.00 $772 —
600 value added 600 1 158.00 $158.00 $948 —
625 625 1 155.00 $155.00 $969 +15.00
665–670 668 3 135.00–143.00 $137.65 $920 —
655–677 value added 673 6 160.00 $160.00 $1,077 —
710 710 1 131.00 $131.00 $930 —
900 900 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,197 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 value added 339 4 204.00 $204.00 $692 —
555–566 value added 564 6 167.00–169.00 $168.67 $951 —
704 value added 704 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,091 —
910 910 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,438 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 169.00 $169.00 $541 —
353–365 359 4 140.00–160.00 $152.46 $547 —
350–395 377 8 158.00–177.50 $172.52 $650 —
390–399 value added 398 60 182.00–219.00 $215.40 $857 —
405–422 value added 414 14 175.00–189.00 $184.06 $762 —
400–430 416 12 151.00–175.00 $164.42 $684 +16.42
453–485 value added 463 5 180.00–182.50 $180.52 $836 —
450–490 476 14 158.00–175.00 $162.64 $774 —
515–530 value added 524 64 170.50–197.00 $191.31 $1,002 —
510–545 531 6 150.00–170.00 $158.26 $840 +11.85
550–590 value added 562 10 165.00–175.00 $169.73 $954 —
560–565 563 2 155.00 $155.00 $873 +20.00
620–625 623 2 147.50–151.00 $149.26 $930 —
612–643 value added 633 43 158.00–172.00 $165.32 $1,046 —
675–685 value added 680 2 153.00–157.50 $155.27 $1,056 —
683 683 2 153.00 $153.00 $1,045 —
700–735 710 4 145.00–150.00 $148.11 $1,052 —
755–759 value added 758 6 152.00–153.00 $152.83 $1,158 —
750–798 794 21 142.50–145.00 $144.89 $1,150 —
800 value added 800 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,200 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277 277 5 170.00 $170.00 $471 —
315 value added 315 1 175.00 $175.00 $551 —
360–385 374 8 140.00–168.00 $153.76 $575 —
408 value added 408 1 175.00 $175.00 $714 —
405–430 418 2 140.00–160.00 $150.30 $628 +7.30
450–495 value added 470 5 149.00–156.00 $153.38 $721 —
470–480 475 4 135.00–142.00 $139.25 $661 -0.75
515–530 value added 522 6 149.00–150.00 $149.17 $779 —
505–545 525 2 134.00–146.00 $140.23 $736 +15.16
550–590 value added 571 4 140.00–146.00 $144.03 $822 —
603–618 613 3 139.00–140.00 $139.67 $856 +9.67
630 value added 630 1 146.00 $146.00 $920 —
650–675 value added 670 5 145.00–149.00 $146.39 $981 —
670 670 1 139.00 $139.00 $931 +14.04
760 760 1 120.00 $120.00 $912 -5.00
818 818 3 124.00 $124.00 $1,014 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
489 value added 489 8 168.00 $168.00 $822 —
512–549 value added 531 10 162.00–163.00 $162.48 $863 —
570–581 value added 578 11 152.00–160.00 $157.85 $912 —
634 value added 634 7 154.00 $154.00 $976 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 215.00 $215.00 $613 —
330–345 338 2 175.00–185.00 $179.89 $608 —
350–395 372 5 185.00–202.50 $194.45 $723 +9.45
401 thin fleshed 401 7 221.00 $221.00 $886 —
420–425 423 2 192.50–203.00 $197.78 $837 +20.58
450–495 477 19 172.50–217.50 $193.60 $923 +30.60
500 500 4 180.00–205.00 $195.00 $975 —
530 thin fleshed 530 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,002 —
550–565 557 3 161.00–177.50 $171.42 $955 —
590 590 1 157.50 $157.50 $929 —
600–648 626 17 151.00–162.50 $156.93 $982 —
650–690 666 9 141.00–159.00 $151.94 $1,012 +10.94
705 705 4 143.00–161.00 $150.25 $1,059 —
790 790 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,106 -1.48
805 805 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,199 +14.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–335 318 2 160.00–180.00 $170.55 $542 —
355–360 358 2 170.00 $170.00 $609 —
400–435 422 4 142.50–167.50 $157.46 $664 +2.46
525–535 value added 530 2 160.00–165.00 $162.48 $861 —
570–595 580 3 135.00–152.00 $145.53 $844 —
601–645 610 10 129.00–139.00 $136.49 $833 —
680–690 685 2 138.00–153.00 $145.45 $996 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
825 825 85-90% 1 48.00 $48.00 $396 -18.00
800–880 853 85-90% 4 54.00–64.00 $58.86 $502 +24.79
880 880 85-90% 1 69.00 $69.00 $607 +34.93
950–1050 995 85-90% 3 68.00–73.00 $70.42 $701 —
925–1315 1061 85-90% 10 55.00–66.00 $60.79 $645 -8.07
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1355 1198 80-85% 7 70.00–81.00 $74.71 $895 ±0.00
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1940 1582 75-80% 3 78.00–81.00 $80.17 $1,268 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 1 93.00 $93.00 $963 —
1101–1935 1578 7 98.00–109.00 $103.72 $1,637 +14.88

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
960–1150 1032 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 78.00–95.00 $86.82 $896

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1100–1180 1140 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,225.00 $1,164.69
1050–1250 1150 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 14 700.00–1,350.00 $1,042.20
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795 795 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 75.00 $75.00 $596
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 80.00 $80.00 $800
1125–1350 1207 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 72.00–78.00 $74.83 $903

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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
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 700.00 $700.00 —
1150 1150 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 725.00 $725.00 -675.00
1150–1250 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,425.00–1,600.00 $1,516.15 +246.36

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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.