heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers$160.88/cwt≈ $1,067/hd at 663 lb · 65 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$152.45/cwt-4.83 vs last sale · ≈ $881/hd at 578 lb · 58 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$124.50/cwt-5.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,033/hd at 830 lb · 37 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
847
4,354
1,382
Feeder cattle
542
2,505
78
Slaughter cattle
225
345
385
Replacement cattle
80
1,504
919
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steers under 600 lbs sold with lower undertones, while steers over 600 lbs sold with steady to higher undertones. Heifers weighing less than 700 lbs sold with steady undertones, while heifers over 700 lbs sold with lower undertones. Quality this week was plain to average. CME positions sold off sharply today, as most contracts saw triple digit losses. However, demand for cattle suitable to go to grass remained good as ranchers continue to push to gather offerings. Market activity this week was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Packers were the driving force in the market this week as they showed good demand for slaughter cows. A winter storm across much of the plains has slowed the volume of cows and bulls being delivered to plants. Packers paid significantly higher prices in order to secure offerings this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend as most cows were purchased for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Two year old to young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steers under 600 lbs sold with lower undertones, while steers over 600 lbs sold with steady to higher undertones. Heifers weighing less than 700 lbs sold with steady undertones, while heifers over 700 lbs sold with lower undertones. Quality this week was plain to average. CME positions sold off sharply today, as most contracts saw triple digit losses. However, demand for cattle suitable to go to grass remained good as ranchers continue to push to gather offerings. Market activity this week was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Packers were the driving force in the market this week as they showed good demand for slaughter cows. A winter storm across much of the plains has slowed the volume of cows and bulls being delivered to plants. Packers paid significantly higher prices in order to secure offerings this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend as most cows were purchased for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Two year old to young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.