light 3-weight N/N/A steers$640.00/cwt≈ $1,939/hd at 303 lb · 24 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,305
809
—
Feeder cattle
990
638
—
Slaughter cattle
315
171
—
Market comments — Decatur Livestock Market
The market on steers was stout this week while heifers were steady. Had a higher ratio of steers/bulls this week over heifers - might be a sign that people are retaining heifers! Mostly older bred cows and pairs offered this week with prices 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.
The market on steers was stout this week while heifers were steady. Had a higher ratio of steers/bulls this week over heifers - might be a sign that people are retaining heifers! Mostly older bred cows and pairs offered this week with prices higher.