light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$150.48/cwt≈ $1,073/hd at 713 lb · 205 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers$157.22/cwt+7.30 vs last sale · ≈ $994/hd at 632 lb · 97 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers$156.38/cwt≈ $1,277/hd at 816 lb · 91 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,362
1,070
1,608
Feeder cattle
1,244
962
1,480
Slaughter cattle
38
47
104
Replacement cattle
80
61
24
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to two weeks ago: Feeder steers and heifers traded mostly 3.00 to 4.00 higher. Steer calves traded mostly weak to steady. Heifer calves were mostly 4.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls traded mostly steady to weak. Trading activity was moderate on moderate to good buyer demand. A cold front moved into the area over the weekend bringing trace amounts of snow. However, the trading region is in desperate need of some moisture as higher than average temperatures accompanied by high winds have dried out soil moisture levels. As of December 28, Amarillo, Texas has observed no precipitation for 76 consecutive days which is the second longest dry streak on record, according to the US Drought Monitor.
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.
Compared to two weeks ago: Feeder steers and heifers traded mostly 3.00 to 4.00 higher. Steer calves traded mostly weak to steady. Heifer calves were mostly 4.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls traded mostly steady to weak. Trading activity was moderate on moderate to good buyer demand. A cold front moved into the area over the weekend bringing trace amounts of snow. However, the trading region is in desperate need of some moisture as higher than average temperatures accompanied by high winds have dried out soil moisture levels. As of December 28, Amarillo, Texas has observed no precipitation for 76 consecutive days which is the second longest dry streak on record, according to the US Drought Monitor.