Cattle Market Pulse

Low Country Livestock Exchange Market Report

Darlington, South Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, April 30, 2024

487 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $214.50/cwt ≈ $1,615/hd at 753 lb · 28 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 2 heifers $239.80/cwt +1.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,135/hd at 473 lb · 16 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $292.30/cwt ≈ $1,429/hd at 489 lb · 13 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 487 397 658
Feeder cattle 325 242 362
Slaughter cattle 76 40 120
Replacement cattle 9 21 64

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week no comparisons made on feeder steers or feeder bulls due to limited comparable sales, feeder heifers 2.00 lower based on limited comparable sales, slaughter cows 2.00 lower, slaughter bulls 6.00 lower. Moderate offering of average quality cattle with active buyer participation.

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
295 295 1 300.00 $300.00 $885 —
315–325 318 3 300.00–302.50 $300.82 $957 —
488–493 489 13 290.00–293.00 $292.30 $1,429 —
535–543 540 7 270.00–287.50 $283.08 $1,529 -1.92
570 570 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,539 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,107 —
500 500 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,300 +10.00
563–575 566 4 249.00–250.00 $249.25 $1,411 -15.92
607–645 623 6 230.00–245.00 $239.10 $1,490 -0.90
661–695 670 4 222.50–230.00 $228.05 $1,528 —
755–777 766 2 222.50 $222.50 $1,704 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 215.00 $215.00 $838 —
445 445 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,024 —
520–545 533 3 235.00–242.50 $239.21 $1,275 —
605–635 620 2 210.00–220.00 $214.88 $1,332 +4.88

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–295 279 4 265.00–285.00 $275.27 $768 —
315 315 1 275.00 $275.00 $866 +20.23
380 380 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,026 +12.50
420 420 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,050 -4.94
435 435 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,088 -4.94
451–470 457 9 255.00–267.50 $259.28 $1,185 -8.22
510 510 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,262 -5.00
565 565 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,356 +1.10
753 753 28 214.50 $214.50 $1,615 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 260.00 $260.00 $767 —
345 345 1 250.00 $250.00 $862 -5.00
405–442 436 7 240.00–252.50 $246.35 $1,074 +13.77
458–495 473 15 232.50–250.00 $241.12 $1,140 +1.12
480 480 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,056 -20.00
535 535 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,271 -2.57
565–580 571 8 220.00–235.00 $230.61 $1,317 +20.61
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
243 243 6 220.00 $220.00 $535 —
405–445 423 4 215.00–232.50 $220.82 $934 +20.82
465 465 2 220.00–235.00 $227.50 $1,058 +15.00
510–545 527 3 210.00–227.50 $219.10 $1,155 +6.60
575 575 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,294 +12.50

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 275.00 $275.00 $660 —
255 255 3 280.00 $280.00 $714 —
300–330 318 4 250.00–270.00 $258.90 $823 -1.10
358–390 372 4 255.00–270.00 $263.51 $980 -22.33
410–425 420 3 262.50–270.00 $265.78 $1,116 -18.52
455–495 480 9 250.00–272.50 $262.73 $1,261 -10.72
505–545 525 5 240.00–277.50 $252.91 $1,328 +22.91
550–585 563 7 240.00–252.50 $243.93 $1,373 -3.91
610–640 625 2 232.50–250.00 $241.04 $1,506 +11.04
730 730 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,515 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 237.50 $237.50 $582 —
330 330 3 245.00 $245.00 $808 —
425–435 430 2 235.00–245.00 $240.06 $1,032 -9.94
455–495 478 3 220.00–237.50 $227.24 $1,086 -17.01
510–535 524 4 220.00–237.50 $229.48 $1,202 -0.52
580 580 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,348 +15.00
615 615 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,353 -5.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 —— 1 327.50 $327.50 $917 —
340 340 —— 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,105 —
425 425 —— 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,243 —
475–490 483 —— 2 282.50–300.00 $291.39 $1,407 —
505–508 507 —— 3 281.00–282.50 $281.50 $1,427 +13.15
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,500 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1615 1330 80-85% 17 114.00–130.00 $119.27 $1,586 —
1440 1440 80-85% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,498 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1790 1522 75-80% 6 115.00–122.00 $118.84 $1,809 —
1580 1580 75-80% 1 129.00 $129.00 $2,038 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–1320 1141 85-90% 6 97.00–113.00 $104.57 $1,193 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380 1380 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,697 —
1425–2095 1706 5 142.00–147.00 $144.59 $2,467 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
640 640 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 97.50 $97.50 $624
740–745 743 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 87.50–95.00 $91.24 $678
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1065 1065 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,129

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,396

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
810 810 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00

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Barrows & Gilts

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
118–140 127 5 30.00–40.00 $35.58 $45 -26.74
160–185 173 2 62.00–67.50 $64.95 $112 —
168–185 174 6 50.00–55.00 $51.77 $90 —
215 215 1 66.00 $66.00 $142 +6.00
220–282 258 6 50.00–57.00 $53.21 $137 —
300–355 330 3 48.00–50.00 $49.39 $163 -2.96
300–395 348 2 50.00–55.00 $52.16 $182 -0.19

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Boars

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 30.00 $30.00 $66 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 —— 5 120.00–150.00 $132.00 -28.00
50 50 —— 1 70.00 $70.00 -90.00
70 70 —— 1 105.00 $105.00 -55.00
100 100 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 210.00 $210.00 +40.00
120 120 —— 3 140.00–155.00 $150.00 -20.00
200 200 —— 2 210.00–250.00 $230.00 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1075 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,375.00 $2,375.00 —
1120–1225 1173 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,725.00–2,050.00 $1,894.78 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
925 925 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 -645.33
1000–1025 1013 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,100.00–2,125.00 $2,112.35 —
Small 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
735 735 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 650.00 $650.00 -480.00

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Families

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
100 100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 220.00 $220.00 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
10 10 1 30.00 $30.00 -10.00
20 20 1 50.00 $50.00 +10.00
30 30 3 65.00–77.50 $69.17 +14.17
40 40 1 52.50 $52.50 +22.50
40 40 1 87.50 $87.50 +57.50
50 50 1 57.50 $57.50 +7.50
50 50 1 100.00 $100.00 +50.00

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 —— 1 80.00 $80.00 -40.00
60 60 —— 1 100.00 $100.00 -20.00
60 60 —— 1 80.00 $80.00 -40.00
70 70 —— 2 70.00–72.50 $71.25 -108.75
70 70 —— 1 130.00 $130.00 -50.00
80 80 —— 1 150.00 $150.00 -30.00
80 80 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 70.00–85.00 $77.50 -102.50
80 80 —— 1 65.00 $65.00 -115.00
150 150 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 1 90.00 $90.00 —

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Pigs

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
35 35 1 40.00 $40.00 +16.35
55 55 4 22.50 $22.50 -20.00

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Sows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–375 345 2 40.00–46.00 $42.74 $147 —
495 495 1 44.00 $44.00 $218 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120 120 1 255.00 $255.00 +67.50

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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.