heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers$258.31/cwt+10.44 vs last sale · ≈ $2,263/hd at 876 lb · 297 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers$252.03/cwt+3.99 vs last sale · ≈ $2,313/hd at 918 lb · 212 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$247.34/cwt+5.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,947/hd at 787 lb · 183 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
2,476
9,141
13,186
Feeder cattle
2,476
6,459
13,186
Slaughter cattle
—
726
—
Replacement cattle
—
1,956
—
Market comments — USDA reporter
Only one cattle auction in Kansas this past week as the undertone was steady to higher. Demand was good to very good as limited auctions were held this week nationwide. Negotiated live sales of fed cattle in Kansas sold 3.00 to 4.00 higher at 196.00. This week, in the hay market demand remained light, while movement of previously purchased grinding hay bumped up significantly for the southwest region. Prices were mostly steady. The supply of hay available remains heavy as almost all contributors indicated that there is lots of hay sitting around. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for December 17th, it was a dry week for most of the region with only areas of southeastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, showing any above-normal precipitation. Abnormally dry conditions improved over southwest and southeast Kansas. The categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 37%, Moderate drought (D1) decreased to 28%, and no Severe drought (D2), Extreme drought (D3) or Exceptional drought (D4) was recorded.
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
Only one cattle auction in Kansas this past week as the undertone was steady to higher. Demand was good to very good as limited auctions were held this week nationwide. Negotiated live sales of fed cattle in Kansas sold 3.00 to 4.00 higher at 196.00. This week, in the hay market demand remained light, while movement of previously purchased grinding hay bumped up significantly for the southwest region. Prices were mostly steady. The supply of hay available remains heavy as almost all contributors indicated that there is lots of hay sitting around. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for December 17th, it was a dry week for most of the region with only areas of southeastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, showing any above-normal precipitation. Abnormally dry conditions improved over southwest and southeast Kansas. The categorical percent area of abnormally dry conditions (D0) decreased to 37%, Moderate drought (D1) decreased to 28%, and no Severe drought (D2), Extreme drought (D3) or Exceptional drought (D4) was recorded.