light 4-weight N/N/A steers$455.00/cwt≈ $1,893/hd at 416 lb · 12 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,236
1,440
—
Feeder cattle
972
1,188
—
Slaughter cattle
264
252
—
Market comments — Decatur Livestock Market
Market continues to be strong even though it was a little softer in some areas. 3-4 weight heifers were higher compared to last week. Had several nice small sets of bred cows and pairs that drove prices higher with active bidding. Packer cows were $5- $10/cwt higher.
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.
Market continues to be strong even though it was a little softer in some areas. 3-4 weight heifers were higher compared to last week. Had several nice small sets of bred cows and pairs that drove prices higher with active bidding. Packer cows were $5- $10/cwt higher.