heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$244.61/cwt+6.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,925/hd at 787 lb · 204 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers$271.04/cwt+5.88 vs last sale · ≈ $2,228/hd at 822 lb · 197 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$224.60/cwt+1.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,950/hd at 868 lb · 152 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,873
2,856
1,567
Feeder cattle
1,461
1,928
1,211
Slaughter cattle
402
737
332
Replacement cattle
10
191
24
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week, steer and heifer calves not well tested. Yearling steers and heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher on limited comparisons. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 3.00 higher, while slaughter bulls were 5.00 lower. Demand was moderate to good on light supply. For the week feedlot trade of slaughter steers and heifers was 2.00-5.00 higher from 188.00-191.00, with a few up to 198.00. Demand is still light for grinding hay but seems to be high for dairy quality hay moving out of state. Alfalfa hay prices continue to weaken with old crop grinding hay and dairy quality hay falling in the southwest, south-central, and north central/northeast regions. New crop pricing for alfalfa is still slow to be reported but of those prices, that have been received, are all over the map as many factors come into play including drought, carry-over, cash flow, barn space and yield. In addition, high quantities of chopped triticale are being used in place of alfalfa.
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, steer and heifer calves not well tested. Yearling steers and heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher on limited comparisons. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 3.00 higher, while slaughter bulls were 5.00 lower. Demand was moderate to good on light supply. For the week feedlot trade of slaughter steers and heifers was 2.00-5.00 higher from 188.00-191.00, with a few up to 198.00. Demand is still light for grinding hay but seems to be high for dairy quality hay moving out of state. Alfalfa hay prices continue to weaken with old crop grinding hay and dairy quality hay falling in the southwest, south-central, and north central/northeast regions. New crop pricing for alfalfa is still slow to be reported but of those prices, that have been received, are all over the map as many factors come into play including drought, carry-over, cash flow, barn space and yield. In addition, high quantities of chopped triticale are being used in place of alfalfa.