Cattle Market Pulse

Athens Regional Stockyard Market Report

Athens, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, April 21, 2026

1,281 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $379.49/cwt -21.89 vs last sale · ≈ $2,406/hd at 634 lb · 90 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $444.94/cwt -2.88 vs last sale · ≈ $2,300/hd at 517 lb · 66 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $460.30/cwt -9.71 vs last sale · ≈ $2,639/hd at 573 lb · 60 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,281 1,482 1,049
Feeder cattle 980 1,109 670
Slaughter cattle 160 106 155
Replacement cattle 141 267 224

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, Feeder Steers 5.00 to 10.00 lower. Feeder Heifers under 450lbs 10.00 higher, over 450lbs 10.00 lower with instances of 20.00 lower. Feeder Bulls 5.00 to 15.00 lower. Excessively fleshy and New Crop calves receiving discounts. Slaughter Cows mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter Bulls 8.00 lower. Quality and demand good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–295 274 8 570.00–630.00 $617.90 $1,693 +5.51
300–345 316 10 550.00–620.00 $583.17 $1,843 -18.35
330–335 thin fleshed 333 2 640.00–650.00 $645.04 $2,148 —
350 thin fleshed 350 1 600.00 $600.00 $2,100 —
375–383 value added 378 8 570.00–580.00 $576.20 $2,178 -54.94
373–390 384 7 545.00–565.00 $559.20 $2,147 -9.11
400–410 thin fleshed 404 5 565.00–575.00 $571.04 $2,307 —
403–420 409 5 470.00–480.00 $472.05 $1,931 -74.46
420–430 423 9 530.00–555.00 $545.62 $2,308 -0.89
450–468 thin fleshed 462 3 530.00–540.00 $533.25 $2,464 —
450–490 476 18 490.00–525.00 $502.45 $2,392 -6.25
483 483 5 470.00 $470.00 $2,270 +3.77
503 thin fleshed 503 3 525.00 $525.00 $2,641 +5.00
500–549 522 22 460.00–505.00 $477.21 $2,491 -4.76
517–543 530 7 450.00–455.00 $451.44 $2,393 -30.53
550–582 565 17 430.00–455.00 $447.98 $2,531 +17.98
556–590 567 6 420.00–430.00 $427.41 $2,423 -2.59
568–579 value added 578 37 465.00–472.50 $471.29 $2,724 -4.37
603–620 value added 609 9 425.00–445.00 $431.74 $2,629 -18.26
620 620 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,294 -49.39
615–645 629 11 390.00–415.00 $405.48 $2,550 -13.91
650–678 value added 664 4 425.00–440.00 $432.34 $2,871 —
655–690 673 2 375.00–385.00 $380.13 $2,558 -29.87
710–738 729 9 370.00–385.00 $375.68 $2,739 +5.63
755–795 768 4 365.00–380.00 $368.74 $2,832 —
840–845 841 6 350.00–355.00 $352.92 $2,968 —
855–895 875 3 330.00–360.00 $344.89 $3,018 -8.32
970 970 1 320.00 $320.00 $3,104 +35.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290–295 293 3 470.00–525.00 $501.85 $1,470 -15.00
300–340 320 13 430.00–535.00 $498.67 $1,596 -22.07
350–390 378 6 500.00–530.00 $508.54 $1,922 -33.16
405–445 428 12 425.00–505.00 $485.77 $2,079 +4.89
450–495 477 7 420.00–485.00 $453.26 $2,162 +23.45
500–540 523 5 335.00–430.00 $393.67 $2,059 -50.00
560–590 569 5 355.00–430.00 $392.39 $2,233 -42.61
625–630 628 2 370.00–385.00 $377.53 $2,371 —
650–690 670 2 370.00 $370.00 $2,479 +65.00
700 700 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,380 —
755 755 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,416 -20.00
814 814 4 330.00 $330.00 $2,686 +40.00
995 995 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,836 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 590.00 $590.00 $1,682 +31.64
300–330 320 3 540.00–605.00 $577.50 $1,848 +3.27
320 thin fleshed 320 1 620.00 $620.00 $1,984 +11.25
355 thin fleshed 355 1 600.00 $600.00 $2,130 +9.99
355–395 375 12 520.00–580.00 $542.59 $2,035 +11.01
350–395 378 4 505.00–515.00 $509.92 $1,927 -21.66
400 thin fleshed 400 2 520.00–530.00 $525.00 $2,100 -36.00
400–430 412 29 470.00–515.00 $502.30 $2,069 +53.01
418–440 432 10 430.00–455.00 $450.50 $1,946 -25.15
455–495 475 2 405.00–435.00 $419.37 $1,992 -49.61
450–490 478 17 440.00–470.00 $452.19 $2,161 -16.79
475–496 value added 491 11 475.00–485.00 $476.78 $2,341 -21.68
511–520 value added 513 34 450.00–460.00 $458.21 $2,351 -21.79
500–545 521 29 425.00–450.00 $432.98 $2,256 +7.98
510–530 522 3 400.00–415.00 $410.11 $2,141 -41.53
555 thin fleshed 555 4 445.00 $445.00 $2,470 —
553–585 562 8 405.00–430.00 $416.23 $2,339 -6.96
550–595 577 6 390.00–400.00 $394.10 $2,274 -29.09
600 600 1 345.00 $345.00 $2,070 -21.29
613–629 thin fleshed 620 9 407.50–410.00 $408.87 $2,535 —
628–645 634 3 360.00–370.00 $366.61 $2,324 +0.32
636 value added 636 77 377.00 $377.00 $2,398 -44.43
650 650 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,080 -40.00
659–690 value added 664 8 370.00 $370.00 $2,457 —
650–685 666 8 340.00–365.00 $350.73 $2,336 -9.27
723–735 725 10 330.00–350.00 $347.97 $2,523 +28.01
750–795 785 20 320.00–340.00 $329.97 $2,590 -10.03
783–798 791 4 355.00–365.00 $359.95 $2,847 +19.95
805–835 819 4 320.00–330.00 $326.18 $2,671 +28.65
860 860 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,666 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,225 +60.97
250–290 266 7 410.00–560.00 $507.31 $1,349 -22.69
310 thin fleshed 310 1 600.00 $600.00 $1,860 —
310–345 328 3 380.00–530.00 $479.75 $1,574 -4.15
365–390 372 10 420.00–515.00 $485.15 $1,805 +48.28
410–440 427 8 330.00–425.00 $407.76 $1,741 -10.27
450–480 468 4 370.00–435.00 $405.09 $1,896 +13.80
500–540 518 9 335.00–405.00 $373.24 $1,933 -15.97
560–595 574 4 340.00–370.00 $355.16 $2,039 -5.37
610–615 613 2 345.00–350.00 $347.51 $2,130 +117.51
665–695 680 2 300.00–335.00 $317.11 $2,156 -12.89

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–385 368 5 525.00–560.00 $545.18 $2,006 -27.29
365–383 thin fleshed 379 4 590.00–595.00 $593.79 $2,250 —
400 fancy 400 1 545.00 $545.00 $2,180 -6.90
400–443 430 24 495.00–530.00 $505.58 $2,174 -3.89
450–490 468 21 480.00–515.00 $493.20 $2,308 -6.19
500–508 fancy 505 3 485.00–495.00 $491.70 $2,483 -18.30
500–540 523 10 445.00–475.00 $458.71 $2,399 -20.89
559–568 fancy 562 10 435.00–450.00 $445.45 $2,503 —
550–595 581 11 385.00–425.00 $406.38 $2,361 -1.06
600–635 617 8 365.00–390.00 $376.24 $2,321 -7.63
660–675 668 4 360.00–370.00 $363.77 $2,430 -26.11
705–747 721 12 350.00–370.00 $360.12 $2,596 +15.16
760–780 769 4 345.00–360.00 $350.02 $2,692 +3.36
825 825 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,681 —
920 920 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,484 -35.00
953–980 960 4 240.00–250.00 $242.55 $2,328 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–380 376 8 440.00–520.00 $478.11 $1,798 -26.90
410–445 429 12 365.00–490.00 $451.04 $1,935 +22.27
450–495 469 4 380.00–460.00 $433.12 $2,031 +14.75
500–545 521 6 400.00–430.00 $413.23 $2,153 +42.04
565–595 582 5 310.00–375.00 $351.03 $2,043 +23.73
605–640 621 5 320.00–355.00 $339.94 $2,111 -9.39
660–695 677 3 330.00–350.00 $343.50 $2,325 +11.01
710–735 723 2 345.00 $345.00 $2,494 —
758–795 767 4 335.00–337.50 $336.85 $2,584 —
925 925 1 245.00 $245.00 $2,266 -30.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1820 1261 80-85% 19 181.00–199.00 $186.77 $2,355 +13.11
890–1725 1281 80-85% 41 164.00–180.00 $174.03 $2,229 +0.37
1015–1695 1284 80-85% 15 151.00–163.00 $158.84 $2,040 -14.82
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405 1405 75-80% 1 186.00 $186.00 $2,613 —
1100–1695 1455 75-80% 25 162.00–179.00 $170.72 $2,484 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
950–1245 1099 85-90% 6 158.00–164.00 $160.96 $1,769 —
950–1540 1101 85-90% 10 140.00–154.00 $146.40 $1,612 +28.38
890–1450 1193 85-90% 6 126.00–137.00 $131.33 $1,567 -21.09

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1430–1770 1603 6 200.00–210.00 $206.80 $3,315 —
1725 1725 1 181.00 $181.00 $3,122 —
1440–1990 1790 7 215.00–225.00 $218.30 $3,908 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885–890 888 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,000.00 $3,000.00
940 940 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00
975–1245 1110 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,500.00–2,550.00 $2,528.04
1165–1235 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,600.00–3,000.00 $2,794.17
1125–1340 1220 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,600.00–3,800.00 $3,207.43
1130–1330 1230 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,800.00–2,850.00 $2,827.03
1105–1520 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 3,200.00–3,850.00 $3,543.70
1225–1350 1288 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,350.00–2,750.00 $2,559.71
1545 1545 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,150.00 $3,150.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790 790 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00
925 925 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,650.00 $2,650.00
985 985 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00
1000 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
960–1200 1078 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,800.00–2,600.00 $2,251.31

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1100 1100 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 4,200.00 $4,200.00 —
1210 1210 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 4,450.00 $4,450.00 —

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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.