light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$314.94/cwt-6.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,659/hd at 527 lb · 110 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers$335.84/cwt-2.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,582/hd at 471 lb · 101 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$345.41/cwt-2.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,817/hd at 526 lb · 79 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
2,401
4,007
2,380
Feeder cattle
1,545
2,928
1,870
Slaughter cattle
574
551
287
Replacement cattle
282
528
223
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Steers 450-549 lbs sold steady to weak in a narrow comparison; steers over 550 lbs sold 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Heifers 450-599 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower. Heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and significantly lower than last sale. Many blemished, frozen ears and or tails were seen today as consigners cleaned out pastures and pens. Demand for yearlings was mostly good this sale as buyers continue to show good demand for these offerings. Yearling quality was mostly plain to average. Demand for calves was mostly moderate and slightly lighter than last week; quality hampered demand. Offerings were light to moderate. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate with many singles in the mix. No load lots were seen this sale. Market activity was moderate to active this sale. Notably, a smaller buyer pool was seen this sale. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to weak on all classes in a narrow comparison. All cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill today and most sold higher on a dressed basis as a result. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold with steady to 3.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin short term feeding cows sold generally steady to weak. Fill hindered demand at times as most of the thin cows on offer were very full. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady on a lower quality offering. Again, fill hindered demand for these offerings as well, as most young cows were very full.
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: Feeder steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Steers 450-549 lbs sold steady to weak in a narrow comparison; steers over 550 lbs sold 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Heifers 450-599 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower. Heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and significantly lower than last sale. Many blemished, frozen ears and or tails were seen today as consigners cleaned out pastures and pens. Demand for yearlings was mostly good this sale as buyers continue to show good demand for these offerings. Yearling quality was mostly plain to average. Demand for calves was mostly moderate and slightly lighter than last week; quality hampered demand. Offerings were light to moderate. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate with many singles in the mix. No load lots were seen this sale. Market activity was moderate to active this sale. Notably, a smaller buyer pool was seen this sale. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to weak on all classes in a narrow comparison. All cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill today and most sold higher on a dressed basis as a result. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold with steady to 3.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin short term feeding cows sold generally steady to weak. Fill hindered demand at times as most of the thin cows on offer were very full. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady on a lower quality offering. Again, fill hindered demand for these offerings as well, as most young cows were very full.