Cattle Market Pulse

Knoxville Livestock Center Market Report

Knoxville, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, October 24, 2023

1,416 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $229.37/cwt +17.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,177/hd at 513 lb · 165 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $238.73/cwt +19.80 vs last sale · ≈ $1,031/hd at 432 lb · 133 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $225.84/cwt +1.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,524/hd at 675 lb · 35 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,416 1,193 1,532
Feeder cattle 1,178 998 1,274
Slaughter cattle 168 173 201
Replacement cattle 70 22 57

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder heifers and bulls sharply lower overall, with no comparisons available for feeder steers due to lack of receipts of regular, non-preconditioned cattle. Drop in feeder prices due, in part, to the sudden downturn in the futures market for feeder cattle. Slaughter cows gauging 4.00 to 6.00 lower with slaughter bulls 4.00 to 9.00 lower. Today's replacement offerings included a herd dispersal consisting of several fancy young bred cows and pairs; and feeder offerings included the following load lots: 1 load ML 1-2 preconditioned Heifers, 504 lbs., $244.00 per cwt, light to medium flesh, mixed colors and 1 load ML 1-2 preconditioned Heifers, 434 lbs., $250.00 per cwt, light to medium flesh, mixed colors.

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
355–397 385 6 257.50–270.00 $260.68 $1,004 -4.99
415–445 425 7 239.00–272.50 $252.61 $1,074 +5.11
450–495 475 10 245.00–260.00 $255.31 $1,213 +4.93
488 488 3 219.00 $219.00 $1,069 -31.38
515–530 524 6 242.50–257.50 $251.24 $1,316 -10.95
522–526 value added 524 5 265.00–275.00 $271.02 $1,420 —
530–542 536 4 217.00–225.00 $221.04 $1,185 -41.15
569 569 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,394 -2.40
572 value added 572 17 252.00 $252.00 $1,441 -19.25
555–590 577 5 217.00–220.00 $217.68 $1,256 -29.72
610 610 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,220 ±0.00
610 610 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,312 +15.00
636 value added 636 6 217.50 $217.50 $1,383 -40.00
652–679 value added 675 35 220.00–227.00 $225.84 $1,524 -3.16
715 715 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,430 ±0.00
770 770 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,424 -20.16
852–885 863 3 193.00–196.00 $194.97 $1,683 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,166 —
555–565 559 5 210.00–212.50 $211.49 $1,182 —
585–588 586 17 192.50–200.00 $198.67 $1,164 —
590 value added 590 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,121 —
643 643 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,222 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585–590 588 2 217.50–220.00 $218.74 $1,286 —
640 640 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,280 —
695 695 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,390 —
733 733 6 190.00 $190.00 $1,393 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–330 315 2 225.00–240.00 $232.86 $734 —
382 382 4 236.00 $236.00 $902 —
535 535 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,177 —
675 675 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,384 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–340 326 4 205.00–225.00 $212.28 $692 -15.37
355–395 376 27 200.00–220.00 $209.69 $788 -11.45
380–390 value added 385 2 227.50 $227.50 $876 —
400–445 423 27 197.50–215.00 $206.00 $871 -9.16
434–438 value added 434 102 220.00–250.00 $249.11 $1,081 +12.06
440 440 4 195.00 $195.00 $858 -20.16
467 value added 467 4 220.00–225.00 $222.50 $1,039 -15.50
450–495 476 24 197.50–210.00 $204.67 $974 -11.53
504–549 value added 508 115 218.00–244.00 $240.22 $1,220 +17.72
500–545 525 50 195.00–212.50 $204.43 $1,073 -6.65
550–590 566 26 192.50–207.50 $198.26 $1,122 -16.27
600–645 619 17 187.50–203.00 $196.10 $1,214 -18.76
650–697 682 16 183.50–194.00 $187.19 $1,277 -20.30
690 value added 690 1 198.00 $198.00 $1,366 —
702–730 716 5 168.00–180.00 $175.39 $1,256 -30.91
755 value added 755 2 205.00 $205.00 $1,548 —
758–772 764 5 168.00–186.00 $178.72 $1,365 —
815 815 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,386 —
823 value added 823 8 188.50 $188.50 $1,551 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 195.00 $195.00 $722 ±0.00
400 400 1 185.00 $185.00 $740 —
485–495 488 4 182.50–195.00 $190.58 $930 +5.58
520 520 1 187.50 $187.50 $975 -13.50
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 192.50 $192.50 $703 —
400–435 418 4 190.00–192.50 $191.25 $799 —
475–495 485 2 185.00–190.00 $187.45 $909 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 270.00 $270.00 $770 —
307–331 321 6 250.00–267.50 $260.68 $837 +11.19
360–385 374 4 247.50–270.00 $261.70 $979 +18.20
405–435 fancy 420 2 250.00–257.50 $253.88 $1,066 -14.88
400–447 428 15 227.50–240.00 $233.99 $1,001 -2.22
435 435 1 212.50 $212.50 $924 -23.71
457–485 472 12 220.00–232.50 $226.43 $1,069 -15.75
490 fancy 490 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,200 —
500–545 529 24 212.50–230.00 $217.82 $1,152 -14.43
550–590 570 18 190.00–212.50 $204.34 $1,165 -20.54
582 582 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,077 -39.88
575–590 584 5 180.00 $180.00 $1,051 -44.88
605–615 609 10 180.00–190.00 $181.00 $1,102 -27.92
607–622 615 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,046 -38.92
642 fancy 642 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,284 —
653–690 664 18 169.00–180.00 $172.82 $1,148 -13.03
675 fancy 675 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,249 —
705–735 719 11 160.00–177.50 $166.19 $1,195 -21.14
760–777 770 4 170.00–171.00 $170.25 $1,311 -14.31
803–805 803 5 165.00–166.00 $165.80 $1,331 +1.80
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412–435 420 3 210.00–219.00 $215.89 $907 +8.39
465–480 473 2 190.00–207.50 $198.89 $941 —
680 680 4 160.00 $160.00 $1,088 -15.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–540 527 3 195.00–200.00 $198.42 $1,046 —
635 635 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,016 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1575 1575 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945–1275 1149 80-85% 33 82.50–96.50 $88.20 $1,013 —
1015–1375 1179 80-85% 4 78.00–80.00 $79.27 $935 —
1175–1460 1305 80-85% 4 99.00–104.00 $100.90 $1,317 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 75-80% 1 79.50 $79.50 $1,081 —
1285–1500 1429 75-80% 4 102.00–106.00 $104.47 $1,493 +8.14
1210–1820 1458 75-80% 34 84.00–99.50 $93.29 $1,360 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–1055 984 85-90% 5 62.50–66.00 $64.74 $637 —
775–1225 1059 85-90% 13 72.00–86.50 $78.20 $828 -14.30

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355 1355 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,490 -4.94
1400–2190 1823 10 114.00–121.00 $117.00 $2,133 -7.82
1945–2245 2103 3 126.00–132.00 $128.44 $2,701 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
830–960 873 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 810.00–1,000.00 $870.19
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
680–730 700 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 700.00–725.00 $716.31

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1025 1025 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1040 1040 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1130 1130 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1265 1265 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,130.00 $1,130.00
1100–1545 1328 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,100.00–1,575.00 $1,393.27
1130–1685 1347 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,125.00–1,620.00 $1,392.10
1595–1730 1663 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,450.00–1,580.00 $1,517.64
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
715 715 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 810.00 $810.00
770 770 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
785 785 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
875 875 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1007 1007 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,600.00 $1,600.00
990–1137 1057 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,675.00–1,750.00 $1,729.83

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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 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,875.00–2,300.00 $2,087.50 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,790.00 $1,790.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 1,450.00–2,200.00 $1,960.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,150.00–1,325.00 $1,241.67 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00 —

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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.