light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$145.41/cwt-3.96 vs last sale · ≈ $763/hd at 525 lb · 584 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$155.98/cwt-5.97 vs last sale · ≈ $896/hd at 574 lb · 541 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$162.47/cwt-5.82 vs last sale · ≈ $850/hd at 523 lb · 392 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
5,797
7,046
3,623
Feeder cattle
5,327
6,510
3,234
Slaughter cattle
285
414
274
Replacement cattle
185
122
115
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Yearlings were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for yearlings was mostly good. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, lower undertones were noticed. 400-599 lbs steers sold steady to 5.00 higher, steer calves over 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold mostly 10.00 lower, 400-549 lbs heifers sold steady to 8.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for calves remains uneven. Transportation remains the biggest factor limiting demand as buyers continue to struggle to find trucks. Much like last week buyers focused on buying front end calves, especially ones with two rounds of vaccinations and passed or discounted average quality calves or calves with only spring shots. After buyers exhausted the trucks they had available many exited the market. Prices declined as buyers filled trucks, as many of these offerings would have to remain in the yards until buyers can find transportation. Weaned calves have started to sell at a premium as some buyers have reported some health issues with un-weaned calves as nights are getting colder and days remain unseasonably warm. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. The additional packer buyer seen last week was not at the sale this week. All cows sold lower as less buying power was on hand for todays sale. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Weigh up conditions this week were below average with many very full cows on offer. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold with lower undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly light to moderate. Quality for this class of cows was average this week.
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: Yearlings were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for yearlings was mostly good. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, lower undertones were noticed. 400-599 lbs steers sold steady to 5.00 higher, steer calves over 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold mostly 10.00 lower, 400-549 lbs heifers sold steady to 8.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for calves remains uneven. Transportation remains the biggest factor limiting demand as buyers continue to struggle to find trucks. Much like last week buyers focused on buying front end calves, especially ones with two rounds of vaccinations and passed or discounted average quality calves or calves with only spring shots. After buyers exhausted the trucks they had available many exited the market. Prices declined as buyers filled trucks, as many of these offerings would have to remain in the yards until buyers can find transportation. Weaned calves have started to sell at a premium as some buyers have reported some health issues with un-weaned calves as nights are getting colder and days remain unseasonably warm. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. The additional packer buyer seen last week was not at the sale this week. All cows sold lower as less buying power was on hand for todays sale. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Weigh up conditions this week were below average with many very full cows on offer. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold with lower undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly light to moderate. Quality for this class of cows was average this week.