light 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$148.27/cwt≈ $1,054/hd at 711 lb · 385 head
light 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers$156.50/cwt-1.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,136/hd at 726 lb · 213 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers$144.57/cwt+6.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,001/hd at 692 lb · 195 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,938
1,732
72
Feeder cattle
1,789
1,696
63
Slaughter cattle
110
30
3
Replacement cattle
39
6
6
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers traded mostly 2.00 to 5.00 higher, instances of up to 7.00 higher. Steer calves traded mostly 1.00 to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves were unevenly steady. Slaughter cows and bulls were 7.00 to 10.00 higher. Trading activity was active on very good buyer demand. According to the Cattle Market Report and Analysis, beef exports last week were 15% over last year and beef in cold storage was 6% under last year. Holiday demand will be increasing in the coming weeks and the ability of the beef plants to respond will be key to satisfying the robust demand for beef.
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: Feeder steers and heifers traded mostly 2.00 to 5.00 higher, instances of up to 7.00 higher. Steer calves traded mostly 1.00 to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves were unevenly steady. Slaughter cows and bulls were 7.00 to 10.00 higher. Trading activity was active on very good buyer demand. According to the Cattle Market Report and Analysis, beef exports last week were 15% over last year and beef in cold storage was 6% under last year. Holiday demand will be increasing in the coming weeks and the ability of the beef plants to respond will be key to satisfying the robust demand for beef.