Cattle Market Pulse

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Market Report

Ash Flat, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, April 28, 2023

776 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $249.50/cwt +7.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,202/hd at 482 lb · 23 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $224.26/cwt +7.61 vs last sale · ≈ $841/hd at 375 lb · 22 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $204.55/cwt -4.07 vs last sale · ≈ $970/hd at 474 lb · 20 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 776 1,123 787
Feeder cattle 662 895 632
Slaughter cattle 84 163 132
Replacement cattle 30 65 23

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold 2.00-5.00 higher. Feeder heifers sold steady to 3.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 4.00 higher. Demand good for all classes.

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
305–345 324 7 260.00–275.00 $267.87 $868 -4.91
350–395 379 12 235.00–270.00 $259.67 $984 -9.08
400–445 424 15 235.00–260.00 $253.30 $1,074 +2.10
453 fancy 453 3 266.00 $266.00 $1,205 —
455–498 486 20 235.00–255.00 $247.03 $1,201 +5.39
500–545 521 6 230.00–247.50 $236.24 $1,231 +6.24
555–580 563 3 222.50–237.50 $230.00 $1,295 +22.05
604–615 608 7 207.50–220.00 $213.93 $1,301 +3.01
670 670 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,440 +10.25
735–745 742 8 185.00–205.00 $194.37 $1,442 -1.58
750 750 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,545 +27.89
800 800 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,500 +10.02
860–895 878 2 177.50 $177.50 $1,558 -2.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 230.00 $230.00 $782 +4.22
395 395 1 225.00 $225.00 $889 -15.00
420–430 425 2 205.00–215.00 $209.94 $892 -18.22
465–485 477 8 220.00–227.50 $220.91 $1,054 +8.50
505–545 518 4 210.00–222.50 $215.52 $1,116 +14.16
550–590 577 3 194.00–200.00 $197.95 $1,142 +9.63
610–630 620 2 185.00–191.00 $187.95 $1,165 +7.64
765–795 783 4 170.00–182.50 $177.50 $1,390 +22.50
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–490 480 2 185.00 $185.00 $888 -3.25
500–545 528 6 180.00–195.00 $192.49 $1,016 —
620 620 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,054 +10.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–345 322 7 205.00–235.00 $224.40 $723 -10.27
350–395 375 22 215.00–235.00 $224.26 $841 +7.61
400–435 420 14 200.00–220.00 $210.34 $883 -1.52
450–493 474 20 200.00–217.50 $204.55 $970 -7.31
500–545 530 16 200.00–217.50 $206.39 $1,094 -0.32
555–595 575 10 185.00–205.00 $194.81 $1,120 +4.21
612 value added 612 7 195.00 $195.00 $1,193 —
620–645 633 4 170.00–180.00 $174.98 $1,108 -14.64
650–690 668 4 170.00–181.00 $175.23 $1,171 -2.99
705 705 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,322 +10.00
775 775 1 152.50 $152.50 $1,182 -17.43
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 220.00 $220.00 $693 —
405–445 432 5 185.00–195.00 $192.11 $830 +7.29
450–495 470 6 185.00–195.00 $190.41 $895 +4.95
505–540 523 11 180.00–195.00 $187.50 $981 -3.59
555–595 575 8 172.50–181.00 $179.33 $1,031 +10.12
620 620 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,023 -7.09
660 660 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,056 ±0.00
720 720 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,188 +7.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 6 220.00 $220.00 $792 —
505 505 3 195.00 $195.00 $985 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460–475 465 3 150.00–172.50 $159.12 $740 -4.23
515–545 530 3 167.50–175.00 $170.90 $906 +9.24

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–340 333 4 240.00–270.00 $253.95 $846 +1.88
358–390 366 5 230.00–270.00 $252.66 $925 +15.60
400–440 409 6 225.00–252.50 $240.93 $985 +12.13
455–495 470 7 230.00–245.00 $236.79 $1,113 +15.63
500–540 519 16 212.50–230.00 $224.35 $1,164 +9.52
550–598 570 17 200.00–210.00 $204.66 $1,167 +2.14
603–635 613 8 195.00–210.00 $205.18 $1,258 +8.43
650–695 671 4 200.00–220.00 $204.88 $1,375 +23.63
780 780 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,482 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–340 320 2 230.00–235.00 $232.34 $743 +17.27
365 365 1 215.00 $215.00 $785 —
400–445 425 3 200.00–220.00 $207.96 $884 -4.44
465–495 475 3 200.00–215.00 $206.63 $981 +1.63
520–535 528 2 185.00–187.50 $186.27 $984 -12.45
570 570 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,083 +8.74
605–645 623 3 175.00–180.00 $178.28 $1,111 —
655 655 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,114 +2.00
700 700 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,190 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1300 1300 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 1 185.00 $185.00 $758 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1370 1077 80-85% 26 80.00–89.00 $83.99 $905 -2.67
935–1425 1222 80-85% 6 96.00–99.00 $97.45 $1,191 —
1135–1520 1325 80-85% 7 92.00–94.00 $92.73 $1,229 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630–1040 878 85-90% 9 58.00–68.00 $63.23 $555 -10.97
750–1105 925 85-90% 10 70.00–79.00 $75.72 $700 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240–1280 1260 75-80% 2 100.00–103.00 $101.48 $1,279 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295–1580 1438 2 94.00–101.00 $97.15 $1,397 —
1600–1695 1662 3 117.00–120.00 $118.66 $1,972 —
1735–1775 1755 2 113.00–114.00 $113.51 $1,992 -5.41

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
725–900 813 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 105.00–110.00 $107.23 $872

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
840–1195 1063 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 87.00–103.00 $92.21 $980
1015–1180 1073 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 84.00–89.00 $87.11 $935
1140 1140 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 79.00 $79.00 $901
1190 1190 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 83.00 $83.00 $988
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800 800 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00
900–1050 967 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 725.00–1,300.00 $1,085.34
1000 1000 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 625.00–900.00 $762.50
1000–1250 1125 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,175.00–1,200.00 $1,188.89

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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
1000–1150 1075 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 850.00–1,150.00 $1,010.47 -100.48
1000–1250 1088 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,125.00–1,550.00 $1,414.77 —
1100–1200 1150 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,200.00–1,450.00 $1,330.43 —

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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.