heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers$276.58/cwt≈ $1,023/hd at 370 lb · 52 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers$265.25/cwt-15.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,135/hd at 428 lb · 39 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$269.07/cwt+24.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,520/hd at 565 lb · 29 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,948
1,427
1,253
Feeder cattle
578
438
490
Slaughter cattle
1,069
773
616
Replacement cattle
301
216
147
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested this week and last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most calves were offered in small lots or as singles. Demand and offerings were mostly light. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold 5.00-7.00 lower on breaking cows. Boning and lean cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white, sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Thin short term feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower. Demand for cows lightened as heavy supplies have been seen across the northern tier of the US. Lots of open cows are being seen as many ranchers report a very poor breed-up. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand for high quality cows suitable to rebreed was mostly good, while demand for feeding quality cows was light to moderate.
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 cattle were too lightly tested this week and last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most calves were offered in small lots or as singles. Demand and offerings were mostly light. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold 5.00-7.00 lower on breaking cows. Boning and lean cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white, sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Thin short term feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower. Demand for cows lightened as heavy supplies have been seen across the northern tier of the US. Lots of open cows are being seen as many ranchers report a very poor breed-up. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand for high quality cows suitable to rebreed was mostly good, while demand for feeding quality cows was light to moderate.