Cattle Market Pulse

Athens Regional Stockyard Market Report

Athens, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, May 19, 2026

1,030 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $435.64/cwt +20.72 vs last sale · ≈ $2,269/hd at 521 lb · 38 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $468.18/cwt -7.78 vs last sale · ≈ $2,054/hd at 439 lb · 31 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $449.94/cwt -7.37 vs last sale · ≈ $2,145/hd at 477 lb · 31 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,030 1,027 1,347
Feeder cattle 668 719 892
Slaughter cattle 102 144 148
Replacement cattle 260 164 307

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, Feeder Steers unevenly steady. Feeder Heifers under 450lbs 10.00 lower, over 500lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Feeder Bulls under 450lbs 10.00 higher, over 500lbs 15.00 to 20.00 lower. Slaughter Cows mostly steady to 4.00 higher. Slaughter Bulls mostly steady. Quality and demand, fair to 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
255 thin fleshed 255 1 600.00 $600.00 $1,530 -73.23
265–290 282 3 540.00–550.00 $543.14 $1,532 -52.55
305–330 319 5 520.00–540.00 $531.07 $1,694 -33.43
335 thin fleshed 335 1 570.00 $570.00 $1,910 —
350–375 361 4 540.00–560.00 $552.70 $1,995 -3.67
365–380 thin fleshed 373 2 590.00–610.00 $599.80 $2,237 +21.02
405 thin fleshed 405 3 545.00–560.00 $550.00 $2,228 +5.00
405–435 422 13 495.00–535.00 $512.23 $2,162 +8.84
467 value added 467 5 550.00 $550.00 $2,568 +40.60
450–488 472 19 485.00–525.00 $504.77 $2,383 +69.77
503 value added 503 4 515.00 $515.00 $2,590 +6.00
500–542 523 26 460.00–500.00 $479.53 $2,508 +6.76
550–595 562 18 430.00–460.00 $448.49 $2,521 +0.52
553–565 value added 562 11 475.00–485.00 $477.68 $2,685 -0.07
600–635 620 8 385.00–415.00 $407.50 $2,526 -24.60
605–635 value added 626 7 425.00–427.50 $427.00 $2,673 -30.00
655–690 673 8 375.00–405.00 $396.28 $2,667 -3.68
703 703 8 378.00 $378.00 $2,657 -2.00
770 770 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,849 +15.05
850 850 1 355.00 $355.00 $3,018 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–255 253 2 420.00–440.00 $430.10 $1,088 -109.90
320 320 1 505.00 $505.00 $1,616 +52.20
350–395 377 3 470.00–500.00 $489.78 $1,846 +1.58
410–440 429 6 400.00–480.00 $462.28 $1,983 -10.14
455–495 473 14 405.00–475.00 $449.92 $2,128 +39.92
500–546 534 9 425.00–455.00 $437.43 $2,336 +12.62
565–595 588 9 395.00–420.00 $403.34 $2,372 -1.66
660 660 1 335.00 $335.00 $2,211 —
705–720 713 2 335.00–345.00 $339.95 $2,424 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,940 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 510.00 $510.00 $1,300 -71.99
300–340 323 5 540.00–595.00 $576.32 $1,862 -1.19
334 334 4 500.00 $500.00 $1,670 -77.51
365–390 378 2 420.00–455.00 $436.92 $1,652 -40.48
363–398 390 12 470.00–500.00 $476.77 $1,859 -0.63
410–443 value added 438 7 500.00–501.00 $500.87 $2,194 —
410–447 439 24 440.00–470.00 $458.64 $2,013 -19.12
450–497 475 26 440.00–470.00 $453.78 $2,155 -5.68
480–495 486 5 430.00 $430.00 $2,090 +8.76
500–520 510 4 415.00–420.00 $418.77 $2,136 +7.51
500–547 522 34 425.00–455.00 $437.63 $2,284 +26.37
552–555 thin fleshed 553 5 425.00–440.00 $434.98 $2,405 —
555–593 577 4 365.00–370.00 $366.23 $2,113 -42.78
555–590 577 17 385.00–420.00 $403.10 $2,326 -5.91
600 600 3 370.00–390.00 $383.33 $2,300 +10.89
622 value added 622 3 410.00 $410.00 $2,550 —
650–690 670 2 360.00–370.00 $364.85 $2,444 +17.40
710 710 2 345.00–365.00 $355.00 $2,520 +19.90
780 780 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,535 —
820 820 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,624 +20.00
895 value added 895 12 305.00 $305.00 $2,730 —
930 930 1 305.00 $305.00 $2,836 +5.00
980–999 995 5 260.00–285.00 $280.08 $2,787 —
1010 1010 2 235.00 $235.00 $2,374 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–290 281 4 410.00–500.00 $456.62 $1,283 -103.38
305–335 322 12 360.00–500.00 $452.55 $1,457 -34.82
365–395 384 12 300.00–455.00 $376.89 $1,447 -64.68
410–445 430 4 405.00–420.00 $416.42 $1,791 +20.36
453–495 476 10 380.00–425.00 $410.51 $1,954 +23.83
520–545 535 7 360.00–415.00 $397.05 $2,124 +31.77
565 565 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,978 -12.16
600–625 613 2 320.00–330.00 $325.10 $1,993 +75.10
675 675 1 335.00 $335.00 $2,261 +15.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,628 —
530 530 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,722 —
620 620 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,108 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–385 373 4 540.00–570.00 $552.79 $2,062 +11.21
365–384 fancy 382 9 587.00–590.00 $587.32 $2,244 +22.32
415 fancy 415 2 550.00 $550.00 $2,282 +22.52
410–435 423 12 495.00–525.00 $507.48 $2,147 +10.02
453–490 463 11 470.00–515.00 $496.87 $2,301 +11.41
500–548 530 17 435.00–465.00 $449.31 $2,381 -1.48
550–555 fancy 553 2 445.00–450.00 $447.51 $2,475 —
555–593 572 8 400.00–430.00 $414.13 $2,369 -22.61
605 fancy 605 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,420 —
600–645 625 3 370.00 $370.00 $2,312 -11.96
650 fancy 650 2 350.00 $350.00 $2,275 -31.69
680–695 688 3 325.00–330.00 $328.32 $2,259 -32.85
700–710 703 3 335.00–345.00 $339.98 $2,390 -14.02
765–775 770 2 325.00–335.00 $329.97 $2,541 -0.09
850 850 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,380 -54.96
965 965 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,895 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358–395 379 6 420.00–520.00 $470.54 $1,783 -20.22
400–440 421 5 360.00–490.00 $441.79 $1,860 +12.74
475–495 488 5 370.00–455.00 $412.38 $2,012 -10.36
503–545 521 7 315.00–400.00 $371.51 $1,936 -1.43
550–580 569 5 320.00–395.00 $376.06 $2,140 -23.94
605–635 620 2 345.00–355.00 $349.88 $2,169 +4.60
650–680 665 2 315.00–320.00 $317.44 $2,111 —
745 745 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,086 —
790 790 1 260.00 $260.00 $2,054 -38.27
870 870 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,088 -55.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,760 —
455–495 475 2 360.00–425.00 $391.13 $1,858 —
540 540 1 370.00 $370.00 $1,998 —
560 560 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,904 —
650 650 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,340 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–1790 1249 80-85% 19 188.00–209.00 $193.53 $2,417 —
880–1835 1254 80-85% 35 170.00–187.00 $179.89 $2,256 -11.57
915–1705 1277 80-85% 9 153.00–169.00 $162.68 $2,077 -28.78
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–1010 960 85-90% 3 166.00–169.00 $167.05 $1,604 —
905–1380 1045 85-90% 11 147.00–164.00 $154.71 $1,617 —
1235–1375 1297 85-90% 3 140.00–145.00 $142.08 $1,843 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1530 1363 75-80% 3 187.00–215.00 $197.77 $2,696 —
1195–1645 1417 75-80% 5 173.00–186.00 $181.58 $2,573 +4.29
1510–1855 1683 75-80% 2 167.00–168.00 $167.45 $2,818 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1390 1247 3 203.00–211.00 $208.36 $2,598 +28.15
1640–2065 1798 4 226.00–237.00 $231.22 $4,157 —
1710–2340 1945 4 207.00–215.00 $211.66 $4,117 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1055 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
982–1215 1099 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 2,700.00–3,100.00 $2,916.28
960–1390 1183 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 2,500.00–3,250.00 $2,876.72
1000–1410 1183 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 2,300.00–3,000.00 $2,734.59
1085–1295 1184 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,850.00–3,300.00 $3,136.43
1190–1365 1273 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,550.00–2,950.00 $2,711.91
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950 950 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1017 1017 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1055 1055 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00
940–1355 1148 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,400.00–2,900.00 $2,695.21
990–1375 1166 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 2,400.00–3,000.00 $2,617.75

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990 990 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765 765 3 350.00 $350.00 $2,678 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1010–1075 1043 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,700.00–3,000.00 $2,845.32 —
1075 1075 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 4,400.00 $4,400.00 —
1080 1080 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,500.00 $3,500.00 —
1120 1120 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,550.00 $3,550.00 —
1160 1160 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
1200 1200 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 3,400.00 $3,400.00 —
1105–1300 1203 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 3,600.00–4,100.00 $3,870.27 —
1175–1280 1210 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 3,600.00–4,300.00 $3,846.83 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
775 775 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00 —
985 985 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,750.00 $3,750.00 —
1020 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,650.00 $3,650.00 —
900–1240 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 3,000.00–3,250.00 $3,099.28 —
1105 1105 Aged (>8 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.