Cattle Market Pulse

Ash Flat Livestock Auction Market Report

Ash Flat, Arkansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, October 9, 2026

766 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $356.56/cwt +13.72 vs last sale · ≈ $2,403/hd at 674 lb · 24 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $387.26/cwt +4.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,820/hd at 470 lb · 19 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $387.14/cwt +17.66 vs last sale · ≈ $2,211/hd at 571 lb · 14 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 766 513 437
Feeder cattle 656 450 345
Slaughter cattle 70 30 62
Replacement cattle 40 33 30

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, weaned offerings were limited, with strong demand noted for the few weaned calves available. Feeder steers weighing 300-550 lbs, consisting primarily of unweaned calves, sold $20.00-$30.00 lower on a light test. Feeder steers weighing 550-700 lbs, with a stronger representation of weaned calves, sold $15.00-$25.00 higher. Feeder heifers sold $5.00-$15.00 higher overall, reflecting stronger demand. Feeder bulls were lightly tested due to limited offerings from last week, with light demand noted on unweaned calves. Slaughter cattle experienced softer demand, selling $15.00-$20.00 lower compared to last week.

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
348 thin fleshed 348 5 537.50 $537.50 $1,870 —
375 375 1 455.00 $455.00 $1,706 -58.98
405 thin fleshed 405 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,904 -55.00
450 thin fleshed 450 4 457.50 $457.50 $2,059 —
460–495 480 5 410.00–445.00 $420.17 $2,017 -14.83
498 498 4 405.00 $405.00 $2,017 -30.00
505–515 510 2 350.00–375.00 $362.38 $1,848 -52.62
505–535 523 11 395.00–412.50 $407.04 $2,129 -7.96
553–585 570 11 380.00–402.50 $399.08 $2,275 +29.60
560–595 575 3 340.00–345.00 $343.35 $1,974 -26.13
606–610 607 5 390.00–392.50 $392.00 $2,379 +33.89
664–672 669 19 350.00–370.00 $366.18 $2,450 +23.34
685–695 693 5 320.00 $320.00 $2,218 -22.84
705 705 2 300.00–320.00 $310.00 $2,186 -10.00
705–720 713 4 345.00–350.00 $347.53 $2,478 +27.53
810–840 825 2 320.00–327.50 $323.82 $2,672 —
855–865 860 2 312.50–317.50 $315.01 $2,709 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,209 -10.00
340 340 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,530 +50.00
390 390 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,580 -11.39
405–440 419 4 400.00–435.00 $414.93 $1,739 +64.93
480–495 488 2 350.00–360.00 $355.08 $1,733 -12.63
455–499 thin fleshed 491 7 400.00–415.00 $412.86 $2,027 —
495 495 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,683 -27.71
500 thin fleshed 500 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,925 —
525–535 528 3 320.00–325.00 $321.66 $1,698 -18.34
520–540 533 5 340.00–365.00 $355.90 $1,897 +15.90
570–590 576 10 325.00–360.00 $354.44 $2,042 +20.98
610–640 625 3 320.00–340.00 $326.67 $2,042 -13.33
640 640 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,920 -40.00
665 665 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,128 +40.00
700 700 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,100 —
760–780 770 2 320.00–325.00 $322.47 $2,483 —
835 835 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,505 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
598 598 2 367.50 $367.50 $2,198 —
656 656 7 342.50 $342.50 $2,247 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–360 thin fleshed 355 2 460.00–475.00 $467.39 $1,659 —
365 365 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,460 -41.86
418–442 429 7 415.00–420.00 $417.79 $1,792 +22.96
450–490 468 14 390.00–430.00 $396.01 $1,853 +41.01
455–495 475 5 350.00–375.00 $362.77 $1,723 +7.77
520–533 530 5 340.00–370.00 $362.11 $1,919 +32.11
550–555 553 2 300.00–310.00 $305.02 $1,687 -42.84
550–593 583 6 320.00–340.00 $324.79 $1,894 -23.07
600–605 603 2 320.00–340.00 $329.96 $1,990 +8.88
605–635 620 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,860 -21.08
650–698 680 6 310.00–320.00 $312.46 $2,125 +4.57
700–730 718 4 300.00–312.50 $308.71 $2,217 +8.71
753–760 755 3 300.00–317.50 $311.63 $2,353 +11.63
860 860 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,322 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–340 325 2 370.00–405.00 $386.69 $1,257 +6.09
315–340 328 2 330.00–335.00 $332.60 $1,091 -48.00
355–390 375 4 340.00–400.00 $364.10 $1,365 -6.51
390 thin fleshed 390 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,521 —
405 405 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,215 -44.96
400–430 418 3 335.00–360.00 $344.66 $1,441 -0.30
425–430 fancy 428 2 415.00–425.00 $419.97 $1,797 —
455–490 462 6 335.00–365.00 $359.69 $1,662 +32.51
475–495 487 3 300.00–320.00 $306.51 $1,493 -20.67
505 thin fleshed 505 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,843 —
505–545 529 6 320.00–335.00 $326.71 $1,728 +23.55
510–548 532 5 300.00 $300.00 $1,596 -3.16
560–565 563 2 300.00–320.00 $309.96 $1,745 +9.96
615 615 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,845 -5.77
665 665 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,862 -30.00
705 705 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,868 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–325 318 3 405.00–430.00 $415.13 $1,320 —
360–385 377 3 365.00–400.00 $378.63 $1,427 +5.43
430 430 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,376 -57.46
425–445 435 3 350.00 $350.00 $1,522 -27.46
450–455 453 2 350.00–365.00 $357.54 $1,620 +32.54
485–495 490 2 320.00–335.00 $327.58 $1,605 +2.58
510–520 515 3 320.00–340.00 $329.97 $1,699 -6.33
535 535 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,605 -36.30
565–595 582 13 280.00–305.00 $293.53 $1,708 -10.94
643 643 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,736 -22.56
650–680 671 4 250.00–280.00 $267.62 $1,796 +17.62
790 790 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,975 —
800 800 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,600 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 thin fleshed 350 1 520.00 $520.00 $1,820 —
390 390 1 460.00 $460.00 $1,794 -15.00
425 425 2 445.00 $445.00 $1,891 -17.46
450 thin fleshed 450 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,980 —
470–490 482 3 345.00–350.00 $348.32 $1,679 -26.68
470–493 487 6 380.00–405.00 $387.40 $1,887 +12.40
515 515 2 355.00 $355.00 $1,828 —
550–575 567 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,814 —
600–615 608 2 300.00–320.00 $310.12 $1,886 —
605–625 615 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,722 —
660 660 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,848 —
705–715 710 2 300.00–305.00 $302.48 $2,148 -2.52
755–785 770 2 280.00–290.00 $285.10 $2,195 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–975 875 85-90% 3 50.00–66.00 $56.43 $494 —
820–1495 994 85-90% 6 70.00–90.00 $78.99 $785 -29.01
885–1210 1021 85-90% 5 96.00–110.00 $102.21 $1,044 —
1085–1120 1103 85-90% 2 116.00–121.00 $118.54 $1,307 -0.97
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1350 1247 80-85% 9 117.00–128.00 $120.99 $1,509 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1630 1520 75-80% 4 120.00 $120.00 $1,824 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225–1560 1393 2 130.00–140.00 $134.40 $1,872 —
1435–1860 1619 4 151.00–164.00 $157.60 $2,552 -10.40

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060–1715 1289 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,800.00–3,000.00 $2,298.93
1155–1575 1318 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,300.00–3,000.00 $2,705.78
1795 1795 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00

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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
950 950 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00 -900.00
1400 1400 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,450.00 $3,450.00 —
1400 1400 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,700.00 $3,700.00 —

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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.