Cattle Market Pulse

Low Country Livestock Exchange Market Report

Darlington, South Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, March 21, 2023

1,267 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Low Country Livestock Exchange report →

light 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $226.62/cwt ≈ $988/hd at 436 lb · 109 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $185.19/cwt +0.19 vs last sale · ≈ $829/hd at 448 lb · 77 head
light 3-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $220.15/cwt +24.74 vs last sale · ≈ $742/hd at 337 lb · 62 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,267 416 358
Feeder cattle 1,155 217 224
Slaughter cattle 58 86 43
Replacement cattle 6 35 21

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparisons made this week due to limited comparable sales. Heavy offering of average to good quality cattle with active buyer participation.

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
205–245 225 5 200.00–220.00 $211.56 $476 -5.48
240 fancy 240 1 240.00 $240.00 $576 —
284 value added 284 3 220.00 $220.00 $625 —
280–295 fancy 289 4 220.00–240.00 $231.21 $668 +0.02
305–335 fancy 321 7 220.00–240.00 $227.84 $731 -2.16
302–335 value added 325 35 220.00–240.00 $225.68 $733 -2.65
305–340 325 8 200.00–215.00 $205.72 $669 -13.96
362–395 value added 372 15 250.00–265.00 $260.08 $967 +35.15
350–390 373 7 200.00–220.00 $214.10 $799 +3.27
350–393 fancy 374 6 225.00–240.00 $230.94 $864 —
400–420 410 3 200.00–215.00 $205.12 $841 —
422–430 value added 424 9 247.50–252.50 $251.37 $1,066 —
400–440 fancy 438 97 220.00–240.00 $224.99 $985 —
454–488 value added 469 25 241.00–246.00 $244.02 $1,144 —
455–482 fancy 481 20 220.00–225.00 $220.24 $1,059 +5.24
495 495 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,040 +15.00
507–532 value added 525 18 217.00–233.00 $224.10 $1,177 —
535 fancy 535 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,150 —
571 value added 571 6 219.00 $219.00 $1,250 +7.72
576–585 578 5 180.00–192.50 $189.97 $1,098 —
622 value added 622 10 205.00 $205.00 $1,275 —
635 635 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,191 —
639 fancy 639 7 197.00 $197.00 $1,259 —
653–669 value added 655 24 181.00–188.00 $181.89 $1,191 —
690 690 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,190 —
766 value added 766 6 168.00 $168.00 $1,287 —
770 770 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,251 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 value added 200 4 190.00 $190.00 $380 —
290 290 1 185.00 $185.00 $536 —
300–330 315 4 185.00–195.00 $187.62 $591 +1.01
360–390 379 5 180.00–195.00 $188.97 $716 +0.66
410–445 426 6 170.00–180.00 $176.69 $753 —
460–490 475 4 170.00–180.00 $174.29 $828 —
490 value added 490 14 189.00 $189.00 $926 —
494 fancy 494 3 190.00 $190.00 $939 —
515–530 524 4 180.00–190.00 $182.53 $956 —
540–541 value added 541 57 207.00–213.00 $207.21 $1,121 —
585 585 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,053 —
645 645 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,032 —
665–675 670 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,072 -12.16
705–745 728 3 155.00–160.00 $156.70 $1,141 —
790 790 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,185 —
825 825 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,155 —
828 value added 828 3 137.50 $137.50 $1,138 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 170.00 $170.00 $578 —
355 355 1 160.00 $160.00 $568 -15.00
415–435 425 2 165.00–170.00 $167.56 $712 —
475–491 488 5 160.00–173.00 $170.47 $832 —
500–535 518 2 170.00 $170.00 $881 —
531 value added 531 48 172.00 $172.00 $913 —
555–580 565 4 150.00–160.00 $157.43 $889 —
578 value added 578 2 158.00 $158.00 $913 —
640 640 2 142.50–145.00 $143.75 $920 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–360 358 2 150.00 $150.00 $537 —
510 510 1 150.00 $150.00 $765 —
570 570 1 135.00 $135.00 $770 —
695 695 1 135.00 $135.00 $938 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220–240 233 3 190.00–200.00 $195.00 $454 —
235 fancy 235 1 210.00 $210.00 $494 —
243 value added 243 9 230.00 $230.00 $559 —
265 fancy 265 1 235.00 $235.00 $623 —
270 270 1 200.00 $200.00 $540 +0.11
310–330 319 6 190.00–205.00 $199.19 $635 +3.78
329–345 value added 339 52 210.00–225.00 $223.44 $757 —
335–345 fancy 339 4 205.00–210.00 $208.75 $708 —
355–357 fancy 357 4 210.00–212.50 $211.88 $756 —
355–395 378 6 190.00–200.00 $193.73 $732 +2.89
389–396 value added 390 51 200.00–218.00 $201.79 $787 —
410–425 418 3 185.00–195.00 $189.94 $794 +4.94
449 value added 449 74 185.00 $185.00 $831 —
462–480 value added 465 15 182.50–194.00 $191.88 $892 —
450–493 482 18 170.00–180.00 $178.37 $860 —
533 value added 533 3 175.00 $175.00 $933 —
557 fancy 557 5 173.00 $173.00 $964 —
612 value added 612 4 160.00 $160.00 $979 —
664–665 value added 664 21 157.00–160.00 $158.71 $1,054 —
715–730 723 2 140.00–145.00 $142.47 $1,030 —
726 value added 726 3 153.00 $153.00 $1,111 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
236 value added 236 3 190.00 $190.00 $448 —
265 265 1 175.00 $175.00 $464 -7.50
305 305 1 170.00 $170.00 $518 —
350–395 372 6 170.00–180.00 $176.72 $657 +4.22
415–435 425 5 160.00–175.00 $165.95 $705 -4.98
460–495 477 7 160.00–165.00 $163.57 $780 -2.78
518–530 value added 520 18 173.00–183.00 $181.30 $943 —
510–539 527 7 155.00–170.00 $161.50 $851 +4.89
555–560 558 2 150.00 $150.00 $837 -1.18
565 fancy 565 1 170.00 $170.00 $960 —
576 value added 576 4 165.00 $165.00 $950 —
607–609 value added 608 9 150.00 $150.00 $912 —
623 fancy 623 3 153.00 $153.00 $953 —
728 value added 728 3 147.50 $147.50 $1,074 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–330 315 3 150.00–160.00 $154.92 $488 —
370 370 1 165.00 $165.00 $610 -5.00
405–435 416 6 140.00–155.00 $149.14 $620 -13.32
455–490 472 6 140.00–150.00 $147.52 $696 -2.56
505–515 510 2 150.00 $150.00 $765 +4.45
550–595 574 8 130.00–147.50 $139.11 $798 +1.38
585–598 value added 594 29 132.00–149.00 $136.62 $812 —
615–625 620 2 130.00–135.00 $132.48 $821 —
650–675 662 3 130.00–135.00 $131.70 $872 +6.70
698 value added 698 4 147.50 $147.50 $1,030 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 135.00 $135.00 $398 —
435–445 442 3 130.00–135.00 $131.64 $582 —
455–495 479 8 125.00–147.50 $133.66 $640 —
500–545 519 7 125.00–140.00 $130.65 $678 —
560–595 578 3 120.00–125.00 $123.39 $713 —
625 625 2 120.00–125.00 $122.50 $766 +12.50
705 705 9 125.00 $125.00 $881 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–425 411 5 195.00–210.00 $199.94 $822 -14.80
410–440 fancy 428 4 220.00–235.00 $226.27 $968 —
460–480 fancy 469 11 210.00–227.50 $223.83 $1,050 —
455–497 475 5 190.00–200.00 $196.15 $932 -15.20
515 515 1 190.00 $190.00 $978 -5.00
579 579 9 195.00 $195.00 $1,129 ±0.00
700–725 713 2 160.00–172.50 $166.14 $1,185 +5.39
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–440 416 4 170.00–180.00 $177.54 $739 -12.46
475–490 483 3 170.00–185.00 $176.60 $853 -3.40
510–545 527 5 170.00–175.00 $171.03 $901 +6.08
560 560 1 170.00 $170.00 $952 —
625 625 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,062 +10.86
660–695 678 2 155.00–160.00 $157.44 $1,067 +12.44
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 1 160.00 $160.00 $856 —
570 570 1 160.00 $160.00 $912 —
635 635 1 140.00 $140.00 $889 +5.00
727 value added 727 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,127 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–1120 963 80-85% 3 70.00–85.00 $78.96 $760 —
1040–1275 1161 80-85% 14 92.00–102.00 $95.99 $1,114 -1.20
1190–1380 1307 80-85% 3 104.00–107.00 $104.91 $1,371 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620–970 878 85-90% 5 70.00–83.00 $77.51 $681 +9.08
855–1025 940 85-90% 7 85.00–95.00 $90.68 $852 +0.86
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–1880 1648 75-80% 4 88.00–96.00 $91.85 $1,514 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1175 1108 2 100.00–106.00 $103.18 $1,143 —
1115 1115 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,059 —
1675 1675 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,943 —

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Stock Cows

Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–920 875 (<2 yrs)Open 2 95.00–112.50 $103.30 $904
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860 860 (<2 yrs)Open 1 137.50 $137.50 $1,182

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Bred Cows

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
755 755 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00
825–840 833 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 775.00–800.00 $787.61

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Barrows & Gilts

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
120 120 2 45.00 $45.00 $54 -42.50

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Boars

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
155 155 1 40.00 $40.00 $62 —
450 450 1 20.00 $20.00 $90 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
100 100 1 130.00 $130.00 -105.00
125 125 1 185.00 $185.00 -50.00
175 175 2 195.00–210.00 $202.50 -65.00
200 200 2 260.00–370.00 $315.00 —
250 250 1 480.00 $480.00 —

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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
1120 1120 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 950.00 $950.00 —
1390 1390 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1040 1040 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
25 25 1 50.00 $50.00 ±0.00
50 50 1 122.50 $122.50 +15.00
50 50 4 80.00–110.00 $87.50 -20.00
50 50 1 40.00 $40.00 -67.50
75 75 3 140.00–155.00 $148.33 +40.83
100 100 1 150.00 $150.00 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 80.00 $80.00 -83.33
75 75 —— 1 50.00 $50.00 -81.25
100 100 —— 1 87.50 $87.50 -32.50
100 100 —— 1 152.50 $152.50 +32.50
100–125 106 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 175.00–200.00 $191.25 +71.25
150 150 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 220.00–235.00 $227.50 -62.50

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Sows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 52.50 $52.50 $121 —
300–360 323 7 62.50–80.00 $67.61 $218 —
335–395 365 2 50.00–57.50 $53.44 $195 —
490 490 1 50.00 $50.00 $245 —
825 825 1 55.00 $55.00 $454 —

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Wether Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75 75 2 140.00–150.00 $145.00 —

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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.