Cattle Market Pulse

Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange Market Report

Shelby, North Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, March 16, 2021

706 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange report →

light 4-weight M&L 2 heifers $119.82/cwt -1.86 vs last sale · ≈ $510/hd at 426 lb · 32 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 2 heifers $121.57/cwt -1.91 vs last sale · ≈ $452/hd at 372 lb · 25 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 2 heifers $118.05/cwt -2.87 vs last sale · ≈ $556/hd at 471 lb · 22 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 706 989 477
Feeder cattle 601 819 363
Slaughter cattle 80 135 96
Replacement cattle 25 35 18

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, breaking type slaughter cows were 3.00 to 4.00 higher, while boning type slaughter cows and slaughter bulls were steady to 2.00 lower on a fairly light test. Feeder cattle were mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Demand was moderate to good; market activity and buyer interest were moderate to active. Offerings of cattle were heavy. Cattle quality was plain to average.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 150.00 $150.00 $368 -13.32
260–295 279 7 150.00–157.50 $152.06 $424 -14.85
310–345 330 14 150.00–170.00 $159.09 $525 -9.13
365–390 377 3 147.50 $147.50 $556 -15.18
350–395 378 12 150.00–169.00 $157.16 $594 -5.52
355–395 fancy 380 3 173.00–177.50 $175.16 $666 —
400–430 fancy 411 8 167.00–172.00 $169.71 $698 —
400–435 419 8 149.00–165.00 $157.78 $661 -2.22
450–496 486 12 147.50–161.00 $151.31 $735 +12.91
490 fancy 490 1 162.00 $162.00 $794 —
505 505 1 160.00 $160.00 $808 +11.56
500–545 519 7 135.00–149.00 $142.14 $738 -6.30
550–590 563 6 132.00–145.00 $139.73 $787 -1.43
600–645 607 11 134.00–140.00 $138.97 $844 +1.21
650 650 1 130.00 $130.00 $845 -3.87
760 760 1 114.00 $114.00 $866 -4.00
770 770 1 122.00 $122.00 $939 +4.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285–295 292 3 122.50–140.00 $134.30 $392 -0.45
310–330 320 5 125.00–145.00 $136.47 $437 -1.06
350–395 376 11 130.00–147.00 $139.30 $524 -1.54
420–440 435 5 137.50–140.00 $139.02 $605 +11.52
450–470 459 4 122.50–130.00 $126.48 $581 -14.53
505–540 523 2 132.50–135.00 $133.79 $700 +7.88
570 570 1 120.00 $120.00 $684 -6.18
665–695 678 3 110.00–120.00 $115.77 $785 -3.14
720 720 1 112.50 $112.50 $810 —
860 860 1 113.00 $113.00 $972 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 115.00 $115.00 $270 —
270 270 1 112.50 $112.50 $304 +2.50
305–335 318 3 107.50–112.50 $110.90 $353 +0.90
345 thin fleshed 345 1 87.50 $87.50 $302 —
365–380 373 2 102.50–110.00 $106.33 $397 -1.17
395 395 1 85.00 $85.00 $336 -22.50
445 445 1 100.00 $100.00 $445 —
750 750 1 100.00 $100.00 $750 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 1 112.50 $112.50 $281 —
305 305 1 105.00 $105.00 $320 —
425 thin fleshed 425 1 85.00 $85.00 $361 —
485 thin fleshed 485 1 90.00 $90.00 $436 —
590 thin fleshed 590 1 85.00 $85.00 $502 —
730–745 738 2 102.50–110.00 $106.21 $784 +2.21
770 770 3 106.00 $106.00 $816 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205–240 223 6 117.50–127.50 $120.40 $268 +1.64
250–295 276 7 112.50–125.00 $120.23 $332 -5.77
300–348 329 13 117.50–129.00 $124.10 $408 -0.35
350–395 372 25 113.00–128.00 $121.57 $452 -1.91
400–445 426 32 112.50–125.00 $119.82 $510 -1.86
450–495 471 22 112.50–123.00 $118.05 $556 -2.87
505–540 524 6 110.00–115.00 $113.30 $594 -0.62
550–595 563 9 107.50–116.00 $112.38 $633 -0.75
630 630 1 108.00 $108.00 $680 -2.39
655 655 1 109.00 $109.00 $714 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 100.00 $100.00 $200 -7.50
260–275 268 2 102.50–107.50 $105.07 $282 +5.07
325 325 1 110.00 $110.00 $358 +2.67
340 thin fleshed 340 1 80.00 $80.00 $272 -5.00
350 350 1 80.00 $80.00 $280 -7.50
355–395 371 6 100.00–110.00 $107.09 $397 +19.59
375 thin fleshed 375 1 95.00 $95.00 $356 —
400–430 416 5 100.00–111.00 $106.78 $444 -0.75
440–445 443 2 80.00 $80.00 $354 -27.53
465–485 475 2 102.50–105.00 $103.78 $493 -0.32
465–480 475 4 85.00–100.00 $92.43 $439 -11.67
485 thin fleshed 485 1 95.00 $95.00 $461 +7.50
505 505 1 94.00 $94.00 $475 +8.98
515–525 520 4 105.00–110.00 $106.76 $555 +21.74
555–595 565 4 102.50–110.00 $105.08 $594 -3.58
590 590 1 97.50 $97.50 $575 -11.16
625 625 1 90.00 $90.00 $562 -15.50
625–635 630 2 107.00–108.00 $107.50 $677 +2.00
650 650 1 82.50 $82.50 $536 -11.14
665–690 680 3 97.50–104.00 $101.54 $690 -1.11
670–690 683 3 95.00–98.00 $96.65 $660 -6.00
780 780 1 87.00 $87.00 $679 —
810 810 1 88.00 $88.00 $713 +5.00
850 thin fleshed 850 1 80.00 $80.00 $680 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–295 thin fleshed 280 2 89.00–95.00 $92.16 $258 -5.34
290 290 1 105.00 $105.00 $304 -1.42
300–315 308 5 105.00–106.00 $105.19 $324 +0.14
360–380 370 2 95.00–100.00 $97.43 $360 -8.14
400–430 418 3 102.50–110.00 $106.75 $446 -0.66
405–445 thin fleshed 425 2 85.00–97.50 $90.96 $387 +5.96
450–490 470 6 100.00–110.00 $105.81 $497 +5.81
480 thin fleshed 480 1 92.50 $92.50 $444 +6.64
515 515 1 95.00 $95.00 $489 -10.86
505–535 thin fleshed 517 3 85.00–92.00 $88.61 $458 +3.11
500–545 523 4 105.00–110.00 $107.72 $563 +1.86
565–590 580 3 97.00–105.00 $100.95 $586 -5.21
580–595 thin fleshed 588 3 82.50–92.50 $89.16 $524 +1.62
610 610 1 89.00 $89.00 $543 +4.00
610–635 thin fleshed 620 3 80.00–89.00 $83.90 $520 —
620–645 627 5 102.00–107.00 $104.81 $657 +2.06
675 675 1 100.00 $100.00 $675 +2.51
685–690 thin fleshed 688 2 90.00–95.00 $92.51 $636 —
755 thin fleshed 755 1 85.00 $85.00 $642 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 130.00 $130.00 $292 —
295 295 1 130.00 $130.00 $384 -0.73
305–348 336 11 130.00–136.00 $133.47 $448 +2.62
355–385 371 5 130.00–140.00 $133.72 $496 +1.20
400–440 414 11 125.00–138.00 $128.14 $530 -1.17
430–445 437 3 117.50–124.00 $121.20 $530 -3.80
473–495 479 4 121.00–124.00 $121.78 $583 -4.20
480 480 1 134.00 $134.00 $643 +8.02
505–510 508 2 118.00–119.00 $118.50 $602 -0.25
569 569 7 129.50 $129.50 $737 +9.51
605 605 1 116.00 $116.00 $702 -3.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–445 420 10 135.00–145.00 $140.45 $590 +1.94
450–475 464 10 129.00–145.00 $137.55 $638 -2.44
500–545 517 6 120.00–130.00 $125.12 $647 -2.87
565–595 586 8 120.00–134.00 $128.21 $751 +1.68
600–630 619 5 120.00–126.00 $123.60 $765 +1.97
650–675 662 3 125.00–126.00 $125.33 $830 +3.85
710–735 723 2 111.00–115.00 $112.97 $817 +1.46
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–415 fancy 410 2 167.50–168.00 $167.75 $688 —
445 445 1 150.00 $150.00 $668 -9.19
465 fancy 465 1 168.00 $168.00 $781 —
450–495 469 6 150.00–162.50 $156.26 $733 +2.36
480–495 488 2 141.00–147.50 $144.20 $704 -9.70
500 500 1 130.00 $130.00 $650 -11.90
500–545 522 13 135.00–149.00 $139.99 $731 -1.91
565–595 575 5 135.00–146.00 $139.26 $801 ±0.00
600–645 623 5 128.00–137.00 $133.00 $829 -0.90
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 82.50 $82.50 $346 -12.50
460–475 467 3 97.50–107.50 $103.36 $483 -4.14
460–485 473 2 95.00 $95.00 $449 -12.50
505–545 523 4 100.00–109.00 $105.46 $552 -4.54
560 560 1 85.00 $85.00 $476 -20.11
640 640 1 110.00 $110.00 $704 —
665 665 1 109.00 $109.00 $725 +13.00
670 670 1 85.00 $85.00 $570 -11.00
740 740 1 106.00 $106.00 $784 —
795 795 1 102.00 $102.00 $811 -4.00
870 870 1 85.00 $85.00 $740 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 thin fleshed 400 1 85.00 $85.00 $340 —
460 460 1 107.50 $107.50 $494 -2.50
480 thin fleshed 480 1 85.00 $85.00 $408 ±0.00
565 565 2 110.00 $110.00 $622 ±0.00
635 thin fleshed 635 1 95.00 $95.00 $603 —
675–690 thin fleshed 683 2 85.00–95.00 $90.05 $615 —
685–690 688 2 94.00–102.00 $98.01 $674 —
725 725 1 90.00 $90.00 $652 —
725 725 1 105.00 $105.00 $761 —
795 795 1 101.00 $101.00 $803 +8.00
855 thin fleshed 855 1 89.00 $89.00 $761 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730–935 830 85-90% 4 35.00–43.00 $38.37 $318 -2.15
695–1405 929 85-90% 23 46.00–56.00 $52.02 $483 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095 1095 80-85% 1 41.00 $41.00 $449 —
880–1390 1130 80-85% 17 56.00–65.00 $61.01 $689 —
1375–1380 1378 80-85% 2 72.00–74.00 $73.00 $1,006 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1445 1251 75-80% 7 62.00–68.00 $64.03 $801 —
1515 1515 75-80% 1 69.00 $69.00 $1,045 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095–1175 1135 2 68.00–69.00 $68.48 $777 —
1050–1965 1482 9 82.00–90.00 $86.10 $1,276 —
1945 1945 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,887 —

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Bred Cows

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
675–840 743 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 510.00–650.00 $601.35
730–760 745 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 500.00–570.00 $534.30
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890 890 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00
1055–1345 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 640.00–780.00 $718.46
1200 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
610 610 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 500.00 $500.00 -160.00
655 655 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 380.00 $380.00 —
695 695 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 500.00 $500.00 —
730 730 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 430.00 $430.00 -500.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 1 79.00 $79.00 $434 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

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.