light 9-weight M&L 1 steers$209.15/cwt≈ $1,893/hd at 905 lb · 68 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$271.32/cwt+1.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,583/hd at 583 lb · 64 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$284.95/cwt+1.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,499/hd at 526 lb · 57 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,585
1,718
760
Feeder cattle
1,185
1,474
680
Slaughter cattle
360
228
76
Replacement cattle
40
16
4
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week, feeders sold mostly 5.00 higher. The feeder supply was moderate and included a pot load of 902 lb. steers however much of the offering was smaller drafts. Other than a few unweaned calves carrying some extra flesh most of the offering had very good weight ups. Demand was good as buyers have had consecutive days now of much lower corn prices which has provided a little boost to the feeder market. Locally drought conditions are making pastures disappear quickly and forcing many producers to make tough choices and are culling herds much deeper than they would like as many have sold all their calves already and the only option left is to reduce herds. The supply of slaughter cows was heavy. If there is any good news to be found demand for lean beef is very good and even with big numbers of slaughter cows at nearly every auction in the state prices remain much higher than anyone is accustomed to receiving for weight up cows. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last week, feeders sold mostly 5.00 higher. The feeder supply was moderate and included a pot load of 902 lb. steers however much of the offering was smaller drafts. Other than a few unweaned calves carrying some extra flesh most of the offering had very good weight ups. Demand was good as buyers have had consecutive days now of much lower corn prices which has provided a little boost to the feeder market. Locally drought conditions are making pastures disappear quickly and forcing many producers to make tough choices and are culling herds much deeper than they would like as many have sold all their calves already and the only option left is to reduce herds. The supply of slaughter cows was heavy. If there is any good news to be found demand for lean beef is very good and even with big numbers of slaughter cows at nearly every auction in the state prices remain much higher than anyone is accustomed to receiving for weight up cows. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher.