Cattle Market Pulse

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Market Report

Ash Flat, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, April 17, 2026

892 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $479.10/cwt -40.10 vs last sale · ≈ $2,043/hd at 426 lb · 18 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $414.15/cwt -23.72 vs last sale · ≈ $2,196/hd at 530 lb · 16 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 bulls $482.81/cwt -43.27 vs last sale · ≈ $2,327/hd at 482 lb · 15 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 892 797 778
Feeder cattle 707 680 599
Slaughter cattle 85 65 129
Replacement cattle 100 52 50

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to the previous week, feeder receipts increased; however, overall quality was plainer, and the supply of feeder steers was limited, preventing the establishment of a market trend. Feeder bulls sold $15.00-$20.00 lower, while feeder heifers were $10.00 lower amid weaker demand. Slaughter cattle traded from steady to $10.00 lower, with a very light test on slaughter bulls.

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
335 335 1 525.00 $525.00 $1,759 -64.52
350–375 363 2 500.00–510.00 $504.83 $1,833 -25.51
400–440 413 3 500.00–510.00 $503.23 $2,078 +0.19
455–480 thin fleshed 468 2 480.00–502.50 $490.95 $2,298 -26.47
460–480 470 2 450.00–470.00 $459.79 $2,161 -8.96
520–535 530 8 430.00–455.00 $450.59 $2,388 +10.77
590 590 1 425.00 $425.00 $2,508 —
745 745 1 367.50 $367.50 $2,738 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 580.00 $580.00 $2,088 -0.55
435 435 1 500.00 $500.00 $2,175 -25.00
440 440 1 500.00 $500.00 $2,200 -25.00
500–545 523 6 475.00–490.00 $483.21 $2,527 -6.65
670 670 1 387.50 $387.50 $2,596 -12.50
710 710 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,343 -47.47
725 725 1 387.50 $387.50 $2,809 +10.03
750–780 765 2 385.00–400.00 $392.65 $3,004 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
404–435 410 5 525.00–530.00 $528.94 $2,169 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383–390 385 10 490.00–500.00 $496.48 $1,911 -26.41
400 400 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,800 -69.20
403–444 428 17 465.00–500.00 $480.81 $2,058 -38.39
478–499 489 12 425.00–465.00 $454.74 $2,224 -13.51
495 495 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,906 -83.25
505–545 525 2 380.00–405.00 $392.02 $2,058 -51.72
505–542 531 14 410.00–430.00 $417.31 $2,216 +23.44
550–590 575 4 380.00–420.00 $401.17 $2,307 +0.55
600–645 615 9 377.50–420.00 $388.49 $2,389 +5.33
635 635 1 362.50 $362.50 $2,302 -20.66
655–690 667 3 352.50–375.00 $365.60 $2,439 —
705–745 729 4 330.00–345.00 $340.54 $2,483 -9.42
790 790 1 345.00 $345.00 $2,726 -7.41
844 844 11 342.50 $342.50 $2,891 +17.50
900 fancy 900 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,970 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
725 725 66 2,600.00–2,700.00 $2,645.45 -265.26
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–345 329 7 450.00–500.00 $467.13 $1,537 -47.66
350–375 365 4 450.00–485.00 $463.87 $1,693 -40.59
400–440 420 10 420.00–460.00 $441.31 $1,854 -21.64
455–495 471 10 370.00–400.00 $388.89 $1,832 -30.81
475–485 thin fleshed 480 2 425.00–450.00 $437.63 $2,101 -52.37
510–545 526 4 380.00–405.00 $394.83 $2,077 -3.24
563–585 566 8 365.00–380.00 $367.56 $2,080 -3.64
580 thin fleshed 580 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,320 ±0.00
600–648 624 8 360.00–375.00 $367.31 $2,292 +28.67
670–690 675 4 325.00–340.00 $335.00 $2,261 -5.00
705–710 708 2 300.00 $300.00 $2,124 -25.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–345 333 3 500.00–545.00 $520.40 $1,733 +10.40
375–392 384 6 525.00–540.00 $530.70 $2,038 +12.71
400–445 430 15 450.00–500.00 $482.39 $2,074 -22.43
475–495 484 4 425.00–460.00 $441.14 $2,135 -27.32
525 525 3 390.00–425.00 $413.33 $2,170 -36.67
570 thin fleshed 570 1 435.00 $435.00 $2,480 —
580–585 584 10 375.00–387.50 $385.51 $2,251 -16.13
605–635 621 7 360.00–390.00 $371.39 $2,306 —
680 680 1 355.00 $355.00 $2,414 —
734 734 4 330.00 $330.00 $2,422 -40.00
975 975 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,632 +12.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390–395 393 2 550.00–565.00 $557.55 $2,191 -44.88
405–431 426 5 530.00–540.00 $538.10 $2,292 -26.78
445 445 2 470.00–475.00 $472.50 $2,103 -92.38
460–495 482 15 470.00–490.00 $482.81 $2,327 -43.27
500–528 519 9 450.00–500.00 $469.22 $2,435 -0.11
525 525 1 410.00 $410.00 $2,152 -59.33
560–575 568 2 380.00–400.00 $389.87 $2,214 -15.13
565–595 575 7 400.00–445.00 $415.53 $2,389 +10.53
600–635 616 6 390.00–425.00 $401.61 $2,474 +1.61
620 620 1 375.00 $375.00 $2,325 -25.00
660–670 665 2 362.50–365.00 $363.76 $2,419 -6.24
725 725 1 357.50 $357.50 $2,592 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695–765 738 85-90% 3 120.00–132.00 $125.51 $926 —
775–1075 907 85-90% 3 136.00–138.00 $136.64 $1,239 —
765–1025 926 85-90% 4 150.00–158.00 $152.71 $1,414 —
920–1250 1030 85-90% 6 160.00–170.00 $164.84 $1,698 -1.58
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135 1135 80-85% 1 178.00 $178.00 $2,020 —
1175–1395 1285 80-85% 2 186.00–190.00 $187.83 $2,414 +10.07
1255–1385 1320 80-85% 2 158.00–162.00 $159.90 $2,111 -32.34
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245 1245 75-80% 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,992 —
1305 1305 75-80% 1 180.00 $180.00 $2,349 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1080 1068 2 176.00–178.00 $176.99 $1,890 —
1590 1590 1 198.00 $198.00 $3,148 -46.00

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835 thin fleshed 835 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,628
805–875 thin fleshed 840 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 172.00–176.00 $173.92 $1,461
975–1030 1003 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 174.00–232.00 $200.80 $2,014

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945 945 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
1035–1200 1134 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,300.00–2,850.00 $2,639.58
950–1320 1170 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,500.00–2,700.00 $2,580.13
1100–1300 1207 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,600.00–3,500.00 $2,983.98
1300 1300 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 2,975.00 $2,975.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800 thin fleshed 800 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,376
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,475

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850 850 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 2,875.00 $2,875.00
885 885 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1100 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00

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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
800 800 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,650.00 $3,650.00 —
900 thin fleshed 900 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,100.00 $3,100.00 —
1000 1000 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,800.00 $3,800.00 —
1000 1000 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
700 700 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00 —
750–950 850 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 2,700.00–3,450.00 $3,030.88 —

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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.