Cattle Market Pulse

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Market Report

Ash Flat, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, May 12, 2023

891 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 $253.74/cwt +24.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,176/hd at 464 lb · 40 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $202.83/cwt +4.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,049/hd at 517 lb · 37 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $207.18/cwt -2.40 vs last sale · ≈ $982/hd at 474 lb · 25 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 891 802 677
Feeder cattle 792 684 551
Slaughter cattle 79 97 101
Replacement cattle 20 21 25

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold 1.00-6.00 higher. Feeder heifers sold 2.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold steady. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00 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
305–335 320 3 250.00–280.00 $261.20 $836 +3.74
355–360 359 6 245.00–265.00 $257.48 $924 +6.53
400–445 422 10 230.00–265.00 $252.17 $1,064 +1.05
456 value added 456 23 261.00 $261.00 $1,190 —
457–490 474 17 235.00–257.50 $243.92 $1,156 +14.21
500–545 524 19 230.00–257.50 $244.18 $1,280 +10.37
550–595 567 13 220.00–245.00 $227.32 $1,289 +14.96
600–635 618 24 200.00–225.00 $211.52 $1,307 +6.52
680 680 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,428 +22.42
700–715 708 2 189.00–192.00 $190.52 $1,349 +3.02
765 765 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,339 +2.44
825–840 833 2 176.00–181.00 $178.52 $1,487 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–340 330 2 210.00–220.00 $215.15 $710 +25.15
413–440 422 4 207.50–230.00 $215.71 $910 -9.29
500–540 526 5 210.00–222.50 $216.58 $1,139 -3.42
555–595 578 4 180.00–200.00 $195.06 $1,127 +6.32
610–630 620 2 186.00–190.00 $188.03 $1,166 —
650–690 670 2 170.00–180.00 $175.15 $1,174 +0.15
723 value added 723 2 177.50 $177.50 $1,283 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 175.00 $175.00 $560 —
350–390 370 2 175.00–180.00 $177.36 $656 —
485 485 1 185.00 $185.00 $897 -5.00
570 570 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,012 +7.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 fancy 315 1 262.50 $262.50 $827 —
305–325 318 5 210.00–240.00 $225.31 $716 -0.06
350–370 358 11 205.00–235.00 $220.37 $789 -12.78
400–445 424 12 202.50–220.00 $211.27 $896 -4.08
450–495 471 18 190.00–210.00 $203.31 $958 -7.19
475–483 value added 481 7 215.00–222.50 $217.12 $1,044 —
500–545 517 26 190.00–210.00 $199.42 $1,031 +4.94
511–525 value added 517 10 212.50–215.00 $213.98 $1,106 —
525 525 1 180.00 $180.00 $945 -14.48
558–570 561 5 180.00–195.00 $186.00 $1,043 -4.41
593 value added 593 4 205.00 $205.00 $1,216 —
608–635 618 8 172.50–190.00 $179.77 $1,111 -1.04
660–666 665 8 170.00–177.50 $175.00 $1,164 +0.31
765 765 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,300 —
825 825 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,238 —
875 875 1 142.50 $142.50 $1,247 —
965 965 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,254 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–345 324 4 185.00–200.00 $193.57 $627 -6.66
365–395 385 6 200.00–210.00 $203.12 $782 -4.62
405–445 424 8 185.00–190.00 $186.58 $791 -6.17
465–490 480 3 170.00–185.00 $178.47 $857 -12.51
500–525 516 5 185.00 $185.00 $955 +4.73
550–595 570 8 160.00–182.50 $169.03 $963 -5.24
600–645 616 4 160.00–177.50 $164.58 $1,014 +2.16
705–745 725 2 155.00–157.50 $156.28 $1,133 —
770 770 1 125.00 $125.00 $962 —
815–840 828 2 120.00 $120.00 $994 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 185.00 $185.00 $879 —
588 value added 588 6 205.00 $205.00 $1,205 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 170.00 $170.00 $604 -10.72
455–465 460 2 160.00–162.50 $161.26 $742 —
538 value added 538 2 160.00 $160.00 $861 —
640–645 643 2 115.00–137.50 $126.21 $812 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–335 333 2 255.00–260.00 $257.52 $858 +15.02
365–393 384 5 240.00–260.00 $252.22 $969 +12.27
400–445 431 9 232.50–257.50 $246.60 $1,063 +17.65
450–475 463 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,111 +4.05
500–525 509 5 212.50–235.00 $222.58 $1,133 +7.67
550–575 566 5 202.50–217.50 $207.96 $1,177 -0.94
605–625 615 4 180.00–192.50 $186.86 $1,149 +2.85
680 680 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,258 +15.00
845 845 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,225 —
860 860 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,290 -5.00
945 945 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,228 —
960 960 1 127.50 $127.50 $1,224 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 thin fleshed 305 1 255.00 $255.00 $778 —
425 425 1 230.00 $230.00 $978 +27.49
450–495 478 3 200.00–205.00 $201.57 $964 -13.81
505–545 532 3 187.50–200.00 $192.63 $1,025 -1.65
565–585 575 2 185.00–190.00 $187.46 $1,078 +0.49
605–625 615 2 170.00–175.00 $172.46 $1,061 +3.42
735 735 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,250 ±0.00
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 185.00 $185.00 $814 +10.00
480–495 488 2 170.00–180.00 $174.92 $854 -5.08
500 500 1 160.00 $160.00 $800 —
820 820 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,189 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483 483 —— 3 235.00 $235.00 $1,135 —
1410 1410 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 108.00 $108.00 $1,523 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1475 1221 80-85% 13 81.00–89.00 $85.33 $1,042 —
1155–1660 1309 80-85% 9 90.00–93.00 $91.63 $1,199 -5.46
1520 1520 80-85% 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,444 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–1200 960 85-90% 15 70.00–80.00 $76.97 $739 +0.45
705–1215 1009 85-90% 7 63.00–69.00 $66.76 $674 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1225 1218 75-80% 2 106.00 $106.00 $1,291 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140–1500 1290 3 90.00–105.00 $100.19 $1,292 —
1305–1950 1709 5 107.00–114.00 $111.05 $1,898 —
1555–1860 1724 4 115.00–121.00 $117.00 $2,017 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685–940 842 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 90.00–95.00 $92.10 $775

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Bred Cows

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) 1 950.00 $950.00
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1050 1050 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,125.00–1,250.00 $1,187.50
1000–1200 1100 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,200.00 $1,154.55
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1035 1035 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 67.00 $67.00 $693
980–1245 1113 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 90.00–96.00 $93.36 $1,039
1060–1290 1175 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 90.00 $90.00 $1,058

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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 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 950.00 $950.00 —
1100 1100 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —

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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.