light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$306.35/cwt≈ $1,577/hd at 515 lb · 286 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$286.44/cwt≈ $1,790/hd at 625 lb · 242 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$312.08/cwt≈ $1,771/hd at 567 lb · 184 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
4,841
430
4,438
Feeder cattle
4,228
94
3,586
Slaughter cattle
480
261
507
Replacement cattle
133
75
345
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Last weeks sale saw very light receipts due extreme cold. No accurate market comparisons can be made for feeder cattle offerings, however, higher to sharply higher undertones were seen on 400-649 lbs steers and 450-649 lbs heifers. All other weights of feeders sold with steady undertones. Demand for all feeders was good to very good for heavy offerings. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive with lots of variation seen. Many different breeds of cattle were represented today, with lots of differences in frame and muscle scores seen. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Most buyers purchased steers 425-660 lbs and heifers 450-625 lbs for that purpose. CME positions saw triple digit gains today as prices continue to press higher after a late fall collapse. The March contract closed at 238.175, 4.40 higher while the April closed at 243.925, 4.125 higher. A very large crowd was on hand for todays sale as the seats were packed throughout much of the day. Farmer feeders, ranchers and order-buyers were all active participants in todays sale which stretched late into the evening. Todays crowd was the largest crowd of buyers seen all fall and winter. Market activity was very active this sale as a result. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cow demand remains good to very good, despite heavier supplies. All slaughter cow offerings sold generally steady. A larger supply of cows was seen this week with lots of variation in yield. Feeding cow buyers were more aggressive this week as they push to buy as many cows as possible. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand, no comparisons are available due to light receipts last sale.
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: Last weeks sale saw very light receipts due extreme cold. No accurate market comparisons can be made for feeder cattle offerings, however, higher to sharply higher undertones were seen on 400-649 lbs steers and 450-649 lbs heifers. All other weights of feeders sold with steady undertones. Demand for all feeders was good to very good for heavy offerings. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive with lots of variation seen. Many different breeds of cattle were represented today, with lots of differences in frame and muscle scores seen. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Most buyers purchased steers 425-660 lbs and heifers 450-625 lbs for that purpose. CME positions saw triple digit gains today as prices continue to press higher after a late fall collapse. The March contract closed at 238.175, 4.40 higher while the April closed at 243.925, 4.125 higher. A very large crowd was on hand for todays sale as the seats were packed throughout much of the day. Farmer feeders, ranchers and order-buyers were all active participants in todays sale which stretched late into the evening. Todays crowd was the largest crowd of buyers seen all fall and winter. Market activity was very active this sale as a result. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cow demand remains good to very good, despite heavier supplies. All slaughter cow offerings sold generally steady. A larger supply of cows was seen this week with lots of variation in yield. Feeding cow buyers were more aggressive this week as they push to buy as many cows as possible. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand, no comparisons are available due to light receipts last sale.