light 8-weight M&L 1 steers$235.36/cwt+13.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,937/hd at 823 lb · 555 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers$241.10/cwt+15.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,844/hd at 765 lb · 417 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers$217.40/cwt+14.54 vs last sale · ≈ $2,124/hd at 977 lb · 288 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
4,031
4,525
3,960
Feeder cattle
3,406
3,856
3,372
Slaughter cattle
576
602
580
Replacement cattle
49
67
8
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers overall sold on a light test, though a higher undertone was noted. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Demand was reported as moderate to good. Compared to last week, fed slaughter steers and heifers in the feed yards sold 5.00 to 6.00 higher from 184.00 to 185.00. In the hay market, demand remains good, trade activity remains slow, and prices remained mostly steady. Hay is starting to hit the ground, even with rain chances, and new crop prices continue to trickle in. However, there seems to be a standoff between buyers and sellers, with buyers wanting lower prices before purchasing and sellers wanting to maintain current price due to dry conditions.
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 steers and heifers overall sold on a light test, though a higher undertone was noted. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Demand was reported as moderate to good. Compared to last week, fed slaughter steers and heifers in the feed yards sold 5.00 to 6.00 higher from 184.00 to 185.00. In the hay market, demand remains good, trade activity remains slow, and prices remained mostly steady. Hay is starting to hit the ground, even with rain chances, and new crop prices continue to trickle in. However, there seems to be a standoff between buyers and sellers, with buyers wanting lower prices before purchasing and sellers wanting to maintain current price due to dry conditions.