Cattle Market Pulse

Low Country Livestock Exchange Market Report

Darlington, South Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, March 5, 2024

488 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 bulls $312.10/cwt +9.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,311/hd at 420 lb · 14 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $265.47/cwt +5.47 vs last sale · ≈ $953/hd at 359 lb · 10 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 488 384 426
Feeder cattle 252 200 276
Slaughter cattle 52 54 38
Replacement cattle 12 8 16

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparisons made this week on all classes of feeder cattle due to limited comparable sales. Slaughter cows and slaughter bulls were 2.00 lower. Moderate offering of average quality cattle with active buyer participation.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 300.00 $300.00 $735 —
390 390 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,092 —
493 493 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,331 -12.50
520 520 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,352 +7.92
575–585 580 2 250.00–255.00 $252.52 $1,465 —
602–605 604 4 249.00 $249.00 $1,504 +24.00
655–665 662 3 230.00–240.00 $236.70 $1,567 +14.20
748 748 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,496 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 312.50 $312.50 $828 —
327 327 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,046 —
415 415 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,328 —
475 475 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,378 —
510 510 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,402 -17.50
555 555 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,388 —
635 635 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,651 +20.00
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 270.00 $270.00 $594 —
333 333 2 265.00 $265.00 $882 +5.00
395 395 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,017 —
595 595 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,250 —
600 600 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,290 —
650 650 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,235 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 2 235.00 $235.00 $517 —
330 330 1 230.00 $230.00 $759 —
360 360 1 230.00 $230.00 $828 -7.93
423–435 427 3 210.00–215.00 $213.30 $911 -0.51
460 460 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,000 +8.76
520–535 525 6 222.50–232.50 $230.02 $1,208 +19.96
637 637 5 200.00 $200.00 $1,274 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 318 2 265.00 $265.00 $843 ±0.00
350–355 351 7 240.00–265.00 $261.38 $917 +1.38
378 fancy 378 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,040 —
451 451 4 241.00 $241.00 $1,087 +12.24
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–235 223 3 200.00–205.00 $203.25 $453 -11.75
310–335 322 3 195.00–222.50 $203.83 $656 +3.83
365–390 375 3 195.00–212.50 $205.61 $771 +10.70
415–445 434 4 195.00–200.00 $198.73 $862 —
515 515 1 192.50 $192.50 $991 +2.50

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 320.00 $320.00 $688 —
310–320 315 2 305.00–317.50 $311.15 $980 -8.85
360–390 375 2 307.50–310.00 $308.70 $1,158 -4.64
405–421 420 14 300.00–313.00 $312.10 $1,311 +9.38
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–285 265 3 250.00–280.00 $266.04 $705 -3.87
340 340 1 245.00 $245.00 $833 -17.44
370–395 383 2 250.00–260.00 $255.16 $977 +0.16
405 405 2 255.00–260.00 $257.50 $1,043 —
505–540 524 5 220.00–240.00 $232.16 $1,217 +20.92
575–585 580 2 220.00–240.00 $229.91 $1,333 +19.91
600–605 603 2 220.00–240.00 $230.04 $1,387 +37.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 307.50 $307.50 $861 —
315–335 320 4 297.50–300.00 $298.15 $954 +3.04
355–398 381 5 280.00–300.00 $288.77 $1,100 —
445 445 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,246 -7.99
485 485 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,406 +20.66
560 560 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,400 +3.37
615 615 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,445 +17.25
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1085 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,454.00 $1,454.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–1020 931 80-85% 4 93.00–101.00 $97.37 $907 —
925–1170 1054 80-85% 21 104.00–117.00 $112.54 $1,186 —
1065–1440 1243 80-85% 3 124.00–127.00 $124.99 $1,554 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–850 835 85-90% 2 87.00–93.00 $90.05 $752 —
945–1050 987 85-90% 3 100.00–105.00 $102.10 $1,008 -2.87
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250 1250 75-80% 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,612 —
1395–1510 1453 75-80% 2 113.00–120.00 $116.64 $1,695 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1540 1267 5 125.00–137.00 $129.47 $1,640 —
1385 1385 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,676 -12.43
2075 2075 1 144.00 $144.00 $2,988 —

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Stock Cows

Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
630–645 638 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 581.00–630.00 $605.21
675 675 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 601.00 $601.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945 945 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,011.00 $1,011.00
995 995 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 886.00 $886.00
Small 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745 745 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 689.00 $689.00
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745 745 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 546.00 $546.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825–955 890 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 804.00–850.00 $828.68
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
755 755 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 575.00 $575.00

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Barrows & Gilts

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–175 137 11 40.00–52.50 $42.04 $58 -14.71
165 165 2 30.00 $30.00 $50 —
195 195 1 70.00 $70.00 $136 —
205 205 2 57.50 $57.50 $118 -16.93
200–210 207 3 70.00 $70.00 $145 -4.43
255 255 1 35.00 $35.00 $89 -24.31

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Boars

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 22.50 $22.50 $53 —
305 305 1 5.00 $5.00 $15 —
420 420 1 6.00 $6.00 $25 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 1 100.00 $100.00 -73.33
80 80 8 190.00 $190.00 +16.67
100 100 1 95.00 $95.00 -25.00
100 100 3 70.00–75.00 $73.33 -46.67
100–120 110 2 120.00–125.00 $122.50 -94.50
100–140 113 3 165.00–225.00 $190.00 -27.00
120 120 1 75.00 $75.00 -142.00
150 150 9 160.00–235.00 $217.22 -57.78

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Families

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
100 100 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 1 130.00 $130.00 —
100 100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 200.00 $200.00 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
20 20 8 35.00–40.00 $39.38 -2.18
20 20 1 25.00 $25.00 -16.56
30 30 1 25.00 $25.00 -48.33
30 30 6 50.00–60.00 $53.33 -20.00
30 30 3 30.00–40.00 $35.00 -38.33
40 40 2 60.00–65.00 $62.50 -44.17
40 40 1 35.00 $35.00 -71.67
40 40 1 45.00 $45.00 -61.67
50 50 1 45.00 $45.00 -78.33
50 50 2 35.00–40.00 $37.50 -85.83
50 50 4 95.00–110.00 $101.25 -22.08
50 50 2 40.00–50.00 $45.00 -78.33
50 50 5 60.00–75.00 $68.00 -55.33
60 60 3 80.00 $80.00 -43.33
60 60 1 35.00 $35.00 -88.33

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 —— 3 100.00–105.00 $101.67 +26.67
50 50 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 1 110.00 $110.00 +35.00
50 50 —— 1 60.00 $60.00 -15.00
70 70 —— 1 100.00 $100.00 -20.00
80 80 —— 1 125.00 $125.00 +5.00
80 80 —— 2 100.00 $100.00 -20.00
80 80 —— 2 125.00 $125.00 +5.00
100 100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 135.00–150.00 $143.33 -131.67
100 100 —— 1 120.00 $120.00 -155.00
100 100 —— 2 100.00 $100.00 -175.00
100 100 —— 1 90.00 $90.00 -185.00
150 150 —— 1 165.00 $165.00 —
150 150 —— 1 130.00 $130.00 —

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Pigs

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
48 48 7 45.00 $45.00 -1.73
50 50 1 37.50 $37.50 -37.29
52 52 2 50.00 $50.00 -24.79
65–66 66 6 55.00–75.00 $71.71 -3.08
68 68 3 30.00 $30.00 -44.79
70 70 2 35.00 $35.00 -39.79
70–71 71 5 65.00–82.50 $75.56 +0.77
88 88 3 70.00 $70.00 ±0.00
95 95 1 70.00 $70.00 ±0.00

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Sows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555 555 1 58.00 $58.00 $322 —

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Wether Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 2 100.00–130.00 $115.00 —
70 70 1 120.00 $120.00 —
80 80 1 170.00 $170.00 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120 120 1 200.00 $200.00 —

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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.