Cattle Market Pulse

Knoxville Livestock Center Market Report

Knoxville, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, December 17, 2024

1,137 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $313.16/cwt +35.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,772/hd at 566 lb · 105 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $269.76/cwt +11.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,896/hd at 703 lb · 77 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $281.77/cwt +12.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,752/hd at 622 lb · 49 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,137 1,000 902
Feeder cattle 963 852 814
Slaughter cattle 106 115 73
Replacement cattle 68 33 15

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder steers measuring 3.00 to 4.00 higher, with feeder heifers 2.00 higher, and feeder bulls sharply higher overall. Slaughter cows and bulls gauging 3.00 to 6.00 lower overall with exception of lean cows 5.00 higher. Replacement offerings for today's sale included a fancy set of bred cows and cow/calf pairs cosigned from one farm. Today's offerings included the following load lots: 1 load ML 1 preconditioned Steers, 703 lbs., $270.00 per cwt., medium flesh, mostly black/bwf; 1 load ML 1 preconditioned Steers, 561 lbs., $323.00 per cwt., medium flesh, mostly black/bwf. No sale will be held the next two weeks in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–335 327 3 365.00–400.00 $387.22 $1,266 -32.78
355–395 375 3 355.00–400.00 $370.96 $1,391 +16.06
437 437 4 330.00–340.00 $335.00 $1,464 -8.28
465 value added 465 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,697 +16.57
455–482 471 16 340.00–350.00 $344.67 $1,623 +11.29
492–495 494 4 310.00–317.50 $313.74 $1,550 -19.64
500–547 523 9 295.00–325.00 $308.33 $1,613 +1.24
540 540 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,458 -37.09
561–578 value added 562 82 311.00–323.00 $322.25 $1,811 —
550–598 579 19 276.00–295.00 $283.65 $1,642 +5.60
580–590 585 4 265.00–270.00 $266.88 $1,561 -11.17
613–640 621 13 262.50–277.50 $273.86 $1,701 +5.66
619–637 value added 622 36 280.00–297.00 $284.63 $1,770 +2.13
650–695 678 10 250.00–267.50 $260.08 $1,763 +1.15
703–715 value added 703 77 262.50–270.00 $269.76 $1,896 +11.76
765–770 768 3 225.00–247.50 $237.48 $1,824 —
807–839 value added 830 7 230.00–234.00 $231.11 $1,918 -13.89
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,326 +26.40
525 525 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,391 —
595 595 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,398 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–288 283 5 360.00–372.50 $370.16 $1,048 —
310–330 319 4 307.50–350.00 $326.42 $1,041 +50.45
365–380 value added 374 4 329.00–345.00 $339.86 $1,271 —
355–395 380 29 280.00–322.50 $303.04 $1,152 +29.27
400–435 420 23 272.50–305.00 $289.12 $1,214 +24.24
425 425 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,116 -2.38
440 440 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,067 -43.06
465 value added 465 1 289.00 $289.00 $1,344 —
455–495 482 42 252.50–277.50 $264.08 $1,273 -5.23
475–490 483 2 240.00–247.50 $243.69 $1,177 -25.62
500–546 524 38 250.00–275.00 $263.82 $1,382 +7.77
520–530 525 3 224.00–235.00 $229.65 $1,206 -26.40
530–540 535 2 240.00–245.00 $242.52 $1,297 +14.33
557 value added 557 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,504 +11.26
555–575 565 2 225.00–227.50 $226.27 $1,278 -16.96
557–597 579 36 232.50–255.00 $245.05 $1,419 +1.82
607–630 value added 612 11 239.00–260.00 $242.86 $1,486 —
600–635 623 9 227.50–232.50 $229.71 $1,431 -5.62
635 635 3 213.00 $213.00 $1,353 -22.33
640–647 645 3 217.50–220.00 $219.17 $1,414 -16.16
652–681 value added 672 10 229.00–233.00 $230.48 $1,549 -14.02
650–692 676 9 220.00–228.00 $225.53 $1,525 —
705–728 value added 723 10 223.00–227.00 $226.22 $1,636 -2.78
740 740 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,591 -2.45
755–765 760 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,596 —
767 value added 767 2 212.50 $212.50 $1,630 —
855 value added 855 4 201.00 $201.00 $1,719 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 295.00 $295.00 $974 —
435–445 442 3 245.00–250.00 $248.36 $1,098 —
575 575 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,322 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–295 280 4 345.00–370.00 $352.72 $988 -42.28
305–345 331 10 375.00–415.00 $389.75 $1,290 +10.12
350–395 377 16 340.00–390.00 $372.15 $1,403 +21.52
400 fancy 400 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,520 +18.57
410 410 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,292 -17.12
400–445 421 24 325.00–365.00 $351.65 $1,480 +19.53
455–495 482 17 312.50–350.00 $335.10 $1,615 +22.79
500–547 528 14 267.50–300.00 $282.52 $1,492 -6.28
542 542 2 252.50 $252.50 $1,369 -36.30
555–570 561 18 267.50–295.00 $289.12 $1,622 +18.51
600–645 621 12 240.00–267.50 $256.66 $1,594 +36.66
635 635 2 228.00 $228.00 $1,448 -17.22
672–675 673 3 230.00–240.00 $236.66 $1,593 -0.57
675–680 678 2 220.00–225.00 $222.49 $1,508 -14.74
755–790 768 3 207.50–220.00 $214.90 $1,650 —
810–830 823 3 187.50–195.00 $189.96 $1,563 —
885 885 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,637 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 2 345.00 $345.00 $1,173 —
412–445 423 3 305.00–315.00 $308.51 $1,305 —
453 453 3 285.00 $285.00 $1,291 —
555–585 570 2 230.00–260.00 $245.39 $1,399 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 325.00 $325.00 $731 —
315–340 328 2 335.00–340.00 $337.60 $1,107 —
365–370 368 2 320.00–330.00 $325.03 $1,196 —
400–445 426 4 293.00–300.00 $296.47 $1,263 —
545 545 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,308 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1865 1865 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1420 1259 80-85% 4 119.50–123.00 $121.98 $1,536 +19.05
1045–1540 1276 80-85% 6 114.00–124.00 $119.08 $1,519 +16.15
1000–1520 1280 80-85% 15 105.00–114.00 $109.29 $1,399 +6.36
1330 1330 80-85% 1 132.50 $132.50 $1,762 +5.30
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245–1645 1412 75-80% 12 108.00–120.00 $114.59 $1,618 -11.46
1355–1520 1438 75-80% 2 134.00–137.00 $135.41 $1,947 +9.36
1440–1745 1545 75-80% 3 113.00–127.00 $117.76 $1,819 —
1245–1835 1633 75-80% 3 104.00–105.50 $104.74 $1,710 -13.11
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–1295 1104 85-90% 6 99.00–110.00 $105.41 $1,164 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1365 1365 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,706 —
1150–2255 1501 7 130.00–137.00 $132.87 $1,994 —
1660–1900 1780 2 150.00–154.00 $151.87 $2,703 +7.23

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1125–1325 1195 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,525.00–1,800.00 $1,713.70
1155–1345 1244 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,300.00–1,600.00 $1,443.99
1170–1350 1268 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,300.00–1,900.00 $1,528.01
1125–1440 1276 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,400.00–2,200.00 $1,839.21
1200–1360 1296 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,000.00–2,700.00 $2,245.03
1295–1310 1303 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,200.00–2,250.00 $2,225.14
1110–1680 1309 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,600.00–2,700.00 $2,161.87
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
975 975 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1050 1050 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,475.00 $1,475.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900 900 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,950.00 $1,950.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
695 695 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,120.00 $1,120.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1680 1680 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1770 1770 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,650.00 $2,650.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 3,050.00 $3,050.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,800.00–2,550.00 $2,300.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 3,050.00 $3,050.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —

↑ Back to top

Heifer Pairs

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

↑ Back to top

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.