Cattle Market Pulse

Knoxville Livestock Center Market Report

Knoxville, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, March 21, 2023

1,326 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Knoxville Livestock Center report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $213.79/cwt +8.47 vs last sale · ≈ $990/hd at 463 lb · 115 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $221.35/cwt +2.26 vs last sale · ≈ $920/hd at 416 lb · 80 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $181.01/cwt +0.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,060/hd at 585 lb · 58 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,326 989 1,026
Feeder cattle 1,146 832 830
Slaughter cattle 145 130 157
Replacement cattle 35 27 39

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, all classes of feeder cattle measuring 2.00 lower overall. Regarding slaughter classes- breaker and lean cows gauging 1.00 to 4.00 lower overall with boning cows steady, and slaughter bulls 2.00 to 3.00 higher.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–345 328 4 235.00–255.00 $243.93 $800 -16.11
315–340 value added 332 3 265.00–285.00 $271.33 $901 —
350–385 375 9 232.00–257.50 $247.97 $930 -7.10
405–435 429 17 233.00–246.00 $244.38 $1,048 +6.26
461 value added 461 3 254.00 $254.00 $1,171 —
450–490 469 14 222.50–247.50 $237.12 $1,112 -1.95
502–528 value added 516 16 238.00–245.00 $240.90 $1,243 —
500–546 527 17 212.50–236.00 $224.31 $1,182 +0.76
558–580 value added 565 10 236.50–240.00 $237.62 $1,343 —
563–595 576 18 210.00–230.00 $224.20 $1,291 -4.06
610–645 value added 636 35 212.00–225.00 $216.46 $1,377 —
605–645 637 5 205.00–207.50 $206.01 $1,312 -15.86
677–698 value added 695 13 197.50–199.50 $199.20 $1,384 —
700 700 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,260 -17.07
710–739 value added 738 45 187.50–197.50 $193.33 $1,427 —
765–792 value added 784 4 180.00–190.00 $184.46 $1,446 —
800–805 value added 803 2 174.00–176.00 $175.00 $1,405 —
830 830 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,411 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 1 226.00 $226.00 $927 +7.27
477 477 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,026 —
525 value added 525 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,092 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 2 225.00 $225.00 $506 —
530 530 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,086 —
665 665 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,130 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
269–295 273 14 230.00–240.00 $237.79 $649 +10.12
300–345 324 12 210.00–230.00 $220.91 $716 -1.59
325–340 fancy 332 3 235.00–237.50 $235.82 $783 -4.18
350–395 374 16 210.00–230.00 $219.88 $822 +2.07
405 value added 405 45 227.50 $227.50 $921 +0.16
405–448 429 35 200.00–220.00 $213.45 $916 -2.89
450–475 value added 459 82 212.50–220.00 $219.37 $1,007 +4.37
450–497 474 33 190.00–210.00 $199.91 $948 -4.80
500–531 value added 520 14 197.50–207.00 $204.59 $1,064 —
500–540 520 21 177.50–192.50 $185.53 $965 -1.76
574–580 value added 576 8 188.00–192.50 $189.13 $1,089 -1.67
550–599 587 50 172.50–183.00 $179.71 $1,055 -0.04
602–635 622 38 170.00–181.00 $177.46 $1,104 +4.37
708–735 value added 713 20 165.00–172.50 $167.47 $1,194 —
700–747 734 15 155.00–162.50 $161.10 $1,182 -2.38
760 760 2 153.00 $153.00 $1,163 -2.00
767 value added 767 4 163.00 $163.00 $1,250 —
805–820 813 2 137.50–140.00 $138.74 $1,128 —
835 value added 835 4 146.00 $146.00 $1,219 —
860 860 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,247 +7.00
905 value added 905 2 142.50 $142.50 $1,290 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–395 377 6 187.50–207.50 $202.21 $762 +6.30
405–440 428 7 180.00–195.00 $191.82 $821 -3.30
470 470 1 180.00 $180.00 $846 -4.91

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252–285 264 4 235.00–250.00 $245.32 $648 -8.01
300–340 318 13 230.00–252.50 $240.82 $766 -8.20
320 fancy 320 1 260.00 $260.00 $832 —
350 fancy 350 1 252.50 $252.50 $884 —
350–390 375 8 225.00–240.00 $234.85 $881 +1.24
417–420 fancy 418 5 243.00–250.00 $244.41 $1,022 —
410–445 430 18 220.00–237.50 $230.22 $990 -3.07
450–495 472 17 220.00–237.50 $225.78 $1,066 -4.73
510–545 526 13 210.00–232.50 $219.46 $1,154 +7.19
572 value added 572 2 216.00 $216.00 $1,236 —
565–580 fancy 573 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,232 -1.72
550–595 574 9 195.00–207.50 $199.68 $1,146 -0.60
600–647 624 7 185.00–202.50 $191.47 $1,195 -0.82
655–690 677 5 175.00–190.00 $179.81 $1,217 -6.71
710–745 721 4 172.50–177.00 $174.86 $1,261 —
760–765 763 2 160.00–170.00 $165.02 $1,259 —
810–815 812 4 150.00–167.50 $157.36 $1,278 -7.24
895 895 1 146.00 $146.00 $1,307 —
900–905 903 2 143.00–145.00 $144.00 $1,300 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–335 330 2 225.00–227.50 $226.23 $747 +8.73
380–395 384 5 215.00–220.00 $217.02 $833 +6.16
450–492 471 6 210.00–212.50 $210.89 $993 +2.26
550–555 552 3 182.50–187.50 $185.00 $1,021 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 220.00 $220.00 $517 —
270 270 1 220.00 $220.00 $594 —
435 435 1 205.00 $205.00 $892 +5.00
460–470 465 2 180.00–205.00 $192.63 $896 -6.06
600 600 1 150.00 $150.00 $900 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1170 1138 80-85% 2 84.50 $84.50 $962 —
1065–1265 1173 80-85% 4 100.50–106.50 $103.77 $1,217 +13.85
955–1380 1199 80-85% 20 86.00–97.00 $92.27 $1,106 +2.35
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 75-80% 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,032 —
1155–1675 1448 75-80% 20 92.50–102.00 $98.03 $1,419 —
1340–1635 1503 75-80% 4 107.00–112.00 $108.71 $1,634 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1115 975 85-90% 3 71.50–73.50 $72.70 $709 —
840–1465 1087 85-90% 9 79.00–88.00 $82.87 $901 +0.25

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1205 1119 11 107.00–118.00 $113.52 $1,270 —
1415 1415 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,641 —
1145–2155 1447 26 121.00–132.50 $126.26 $1,827 —
1330–1970 1777 5 134.00–140.00 $135.77 $2,413 —

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Stock Cows

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
715–740 728 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 680.00–700.00 $690.17
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 700.00 $700.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885 885 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
890–1135 987 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,075.00–1,300.00 $1,169.63
880–1095 988 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 700.00–800.00 $755.44
1035 1035 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
985–1105 1045 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,025.00–1,150.00 $1,091.09
1105 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765–915 842 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 800.00–890.00 $835.96
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
780 780 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,310.00 $1,310.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 975.00 $975.00 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

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.