Cattle Market Pulse

Athens Regional Stockyard Market Report

Athens, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, August 20, 2024

1,605 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Athens Regional Stockyard report →

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $259.03/cwt +1.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,091/hd at 421 lb · 75 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $244.94/cwt +1.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,168/hd at 477 lb · 63 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $236.26/cwt -1.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,231/hd at 521 lb · 57 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,605 1,522 0
Feeder cattle 1,125 1,016 0
Slaughter cattle 357 380 0
Replacement cattle 123 126 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder steers weighing over 400 lbs. measuring 4.00 lower overall, with no comparisons available for those weighing up to 400 lbs. due to limited comparable receipts, but a higher undertone was noted. Feeder heifers weighing up to 600 lbs. 2.00 lower, with those weighing over 600 lbs. sharply lower. Feeder bulls weighing up to 400 lbs. sharply higher, with those weighing 400 to 600 lbs. 9.00 higher, and those over 600 lbs. sharply lower. Slaughter cows gauging 5.00 to 8.00 lower overall with slaughter bulls 3.00 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
253–295 263 8 300.00–320.00 $302.76 $796 +5.22
290 value added 290 3 340.00 $340.00 $986 —
305–325 312 3 320.00–330.00 $325.11 $1,014 +10.44
350–395 379 8 310.00–320.00 $312.96 $1,186 +11.40
400–440 value added 420 2 315.00 $315.00 $1,323 +10.00
415–445 427 14 280.00–310.00 $302.51 $1,292 +8.28
451–478 value added 460 6 315.00–320.00 $318.27 $1,464 —
460 fancy 460 2 300.00–305.00 $302.50 $1,392 —
465–498 486 49 265.00–290.00 $270.37 $1,314 -17.42
505–545 526 30 250.00–275.00 $265.08 $1,394 -5.54
551–568 value added 557 6 270.00–280.00 $276.60 $1,541 +6.60
572–595 581 24 240.00–261.00 $255.14 $1,482 -8.16
600–644 622 34 235.00–260.00 $247.67 $1,541 -12.69
655–695 682 10 230.00–251.00 $240.74 $1,642 -7.33
705–735 720 3 230.00–235.00 $233.30 $1,680 -0.48
760–790 780 3 230.00–240.00 $233.25 $1,819 +3.25
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,322 —
745 745 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,639 —
780 780 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,677 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510–525 518 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,269 -2.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–243 229 9 275.00–285.00 $277.88 $636 —
253–280 266 5 255.00–270.00 $263.04 $700 -7.18
309–345 value added 314 8 290.00–292.50 $292.16 $917 —
300–345 325 20 255.00–285.00 $273.39 $889 +0.66
355–385 value added 370 3 280.00–290.00 $284.86 $1,054 —
360–395 377 6 255.00–265.00 $260.72 $983 -6.79
400–445 421 74 240.00–270.00 $258.61 $1,089 +8.09
435 value added 435 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,262 +18.95
450–495 477 63 240.00–260.00 $244.94 $1,168 +1.03
500–540 521 57 230.00–250.00 $236.26 $1,231 -1.76
550–599 566 57 220.00–240.00 $231.10 $1,308 +9.36
600 value added 600 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,335 -11.70
605–640 626 26 205.00–220.00 $210.59 $1,318 -17.64
664–685 675 13 205.00–208.00 $206.36 $1,393 -15.05
705–711 710 5 205.00–207.00 $206.60 $1,467 +4.81
774 774 4 204.00 $204.00 $1,579 —
760–790 778 3 180.00–185.00 $181.63 $1,413 —
810–845 828 2 180.00–190.00 $185.11 $1,533 —
853 853 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,535 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 245.00 $245.00 $772 —
443 443 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,019 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–285 269 4 300.00–330.00 $316.65 $852 +20.31
315–345 324 4 295.00–305.00 $299.90 $972 +7.97
350–395 372 10 295.00–335.00 $308.24 $1,147 +13.12
400–447 429 14 270.00–295.00 $283.42 $1,216 +6.63
420–440 fancy 430 2 320.00–325.00 $322.44 $1,386 +9.95
450–495 475 15 265.00–295.00 $280.09 $1,330 +4.23
500–545 527 23 240.00–265.00 $251.07 $1,323 +19.60
553–583 565 17 230.00–262.50 $242.44 $1,370 +7.47
600–640 614 23 215.00–235.00 $223.05 $1,370 -12.56
655 fancy 655 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,506 —
652–695 671 29 200.00–220.00 $208.80 $1,401 -22.04
700–740 717 9 200.00–215.00 $205.28 $1,472 -14.72
750–795 781 11 188.00–205.00 $191.46 $1,495 -26.05
825 825 2 187.50–200.00 $193.75 $1,598 —
870 870 2 187.50 $187.50 $1,631 —
900 900 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,620 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
900 900 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1430 1149 80-85% 70 128.00–144.00 $137.82 $1,584 —
1085–1485 1235 80-85% 16 148.00–158.00 $152.41 $1,882 +8.64
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1060 956 85-90% 4 110.00–116.00 $113.18 $1,082 —
830–1360 1029 85-90% 61 119.00–138.00 $128.68 $1,324 -5.99
1185 1185 85-90% 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,695 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295 1295 75-80% 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,930 —
1105–1740 1402 75-80% 41 128.00–145.00 $138.16 $1,937 -17.05

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1225 1190 2 160.00–164.00 $162.06 $1,929 —
1365–1765 1528 3 164.00–166.00 $165.07 $2,522 —
1265–2225 1678 15 170.00–185.00 $178.03 $2,987 —
1735–2055 1895 4 189.00–200.00 $194.04 $3,677 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–1000 938 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,425.00–1,600.00 $1,525.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
750–850 800 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,300.00–1,350.00 $1,325.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1050 1050 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
950–1200 1117 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,575.00–1,925.00 $1,700.00
1000–1500 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,750.00–2,500.00 $2,120.83
1100–1300 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,335.00–2,950.00 $2,578.33
900–1500 1214 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,425.00–2,000.00 $1,639.29
1200–1400 1267 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,800.00–2,000.00 $1,866.67
1300–1500 1400 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,075.00–2,350.00 $2,225.00
1450 1450 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,225.00 $2,225.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
700–750 725 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,225.00–1,325.00 $1,275.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,510.00 $1,510.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–1000 950 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,600.00–1,650.00 $1,625.00
950–1050 1000 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,650.00–2,100.00 $1,875.00
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,150.00–2,200.00 $2,175.00
1100 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,975.00 $1,975.00
1200 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,875.00–2,000.00 $1,937.50

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
653 653 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,241 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
683 683 6 202.50 $202.50 $1,383 —

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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
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,600.00–2,800.00 $2,200.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 2,400.00–2,750.00 $2,644.44 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,350.00–2,650.00 $2,515.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,675.00 $2,675.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 2,125.00–2,375.00 $2,283.33 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,250.00–2,525.00 $2,390.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 2,500.00–2,625.00 $2,593.75 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,600.00–2,425.00 $2,012.50 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1245 1207 85-90% 3 110.00–118.00 $113.25 $1,367 —
920–1510 1239 85-90% 18 119.00–138.00 $126.45 $1,567 —
1180–1500 1322 80-85% 9 130.00–145.00 $138.00 $1,824 —
1460 1460 80-85% 1 148.00 $148.00 $2,161 —
1375–1955 1653 75-80% 9 132.00–144.00 $138.79 $2,294 -17.21

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1109 1109 5 146.00 $146.00 $1,619 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–870 863 2 151.00–152.00 $151.50 $1,307 —

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Heifer Pairs

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —

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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.