Cattle Market Pulse

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Market Report

Ash Flat, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, September 18, 2026

354 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $324.62/cwt -36.64 vs last sale · ≈ $2,211/hd at 681 lb · 14 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $333.77/cwt +13.77 vs last sale · ≈ $2,029/hd at 608 lb · 12 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $352.96/cwt +8.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,833/hd at 519 lb · 10 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 354 616 829
Feeder cattle 299 526 715
Slaughter cattle 30 50 75
Replacement cattle 25 40 39

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder cattle receipts were lower, with triple-digit temperatures continuing to contribute to lighter cattle placements. Offerings were light, but overall quality was good, consisting mostly of unweaned new-crop calves. Demand remained strong on limited supplies, with feeder steers and bulls selling $25.00-$30.00 higher and feeder heifers selling $15.00-$20.00 higher. Slaughter cattle experienced lighter demand, selling $5.00-$10.00 lower.

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
320–335 328 2 540.00–545.00 $542.56 $1,780 +52.56
375–390 381 4 490.00–545.00 $514.93 $1,962 +55.60
410–440 416 5 460.00–510.00 $481.68 $2,004 +76.68
430 430 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,892 +20.00
450–485 471 4 435.00–470.00 $448.66 $2,113 +29.35
495 495 1 412.50 $412.50 $2,042 -6.81
500 500 1 435.00 $435.00 $2,175 +45.00
600–625 613 6 360.00–370.00 $364.18 $2,232 +0.43
660–685 678 7 355.00–370.00 $364.29 $2,470 +5.95
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430–440 435 2 385.00–425.00 $404.77 $1,761 +9.77
485 485 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,794 -5.00
510–535 525 3 340.00–365.00 $350.03 $1,838 +9.74
550–575 563 2 360.00 $360.00 $2,027 +45.00
635–640 638 2 330.00–345.00 $337.53 $2,153 +6.36
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
558 558 3 385.00 $385.00 $2,148 +15.00
635 635 2 355.00 $355.00 $2,254 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 455.00 $455.00 $1,365 —
353 353 5 440.00 $440.00 $1,553 +15.00
420 420 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,659 +35.00
462 462 3 370.00 $370.00 $1,709 +12.97
480–490 485 2 340.00 $340.00 $1,649 -17.03
501–528 510 6 365.00–370.00 $368.27 $1,878 +21.39
533 533 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,759 +7.50
555–580 569 5 330.00–345.00 $338.01 $1,923 +6.39
585 585 1 405.00 $405.00 $2,369 +73.38
600–620 608 12 325.00–350.00 $333.77 $2,029 +13.77
660–693 681 14 320.00–327.50 $324.62 $2,211 -5.53
710 710 1 345.00 $345.00 $2,450 +30.00
810 810 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,430 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,152 -30.08
350–395 371 4 370.00–390.00 $378.47 $1,404 -5.27
405–430 420 4 325.00–370.00 $346.38 $1,455 -2.22
450 thin fleshed 450 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,665 —
450–485 473 5 325.00–350.00 $336.87 $1,593 +28.98
510–530 516 4 300.00–320.00 $310.59 $1,603 -8.95
565–595 580 5 310.00–320.00 $315.11 $1,828 +10.14
605–615 610 2 300.00–325.00 $312.40 $1,906 +7.40
660 660 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,046 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440–449 448 7 365.00–367.50 $365.35 $1,637 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–330 318 2 480.00 $480.00 $1,526 —
350 350 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,662 +45.31
350 350 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,488 -4.69
445 445 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,847 +35.00
465–486 482 6 427.50–440.00 $430.77 $2,076 +51.08
520 520 1 395.00 $395.00 $2,054 +40.00
555–560 559 4 365.00–375.00 $371.24 $2,075 +27.13
593 593 2 340.00 $340.00 $2,016 -4.11
615 615 2 340.00–370.00 $355.00 $2,183 —
655–698 689 5 312.50–335.00 $316.78 $2,183 +1.78
715 715 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,288 +3.72
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 thin fleshed 340 1 460.00 $460.00 $1,564 —
380 380 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,406 —
420–435 427 3 370.00–405.00 $390.20 $1,666 +15.86
485 485 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,746 +10.81
515–525 518 3 340.00–370.00 $356.69 $1,848 +31.69
565 565 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,921 +22.65
600 600 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,950 +23.32
685 685 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,124 +10.00
745 745 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,012 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–945 905 85-90% 3 104.00–112.00 $108.71 $984 —
955 955 85-90% 1 89.00 $89.00 $850 —
935–1060 1005 85-90% 3 124.00–128.00 $125.58 $1,262 —
1060–1185 1124 85-90% 4 130.00–136.00 $131.72 $1,481 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375–1530 1459 75-80% 4 130.00–140.00 $132.52 $1,933 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1375 1238 80-85% 2 130.00–138.00 $133.56 $1,653 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1980 1683 3 155.00–165.00 $160.02 $2,693 —
1645–1870 1747 3 170.00–186.00 $178.54 $3,119 -11.64

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
995 995 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,642
1085 1085 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,779

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,950.00 $2,950.00
955–1215 1085 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,750.00–3,250.00 $3,029.95
1010–1650 1164 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 2,900.00–3,050.00 $2,996.82
1275 1275 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1440 1440 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 150.00 $150.00 $2,160
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
750 750 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00
915–950 933 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,600.00–3,000.00 $2,803.75

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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
1150 1150 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,150.00 $3,150.00 —

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Open Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
875 875 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —

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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.