Cattle Market Pulse

Low Country Livestock Exchange Market Report

Darlington, South Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, May 7, 2024

336 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 2 steers $218.41/cwt ≈ $1,605/hd at 735 lb · 14 head
light 5-weight M&L 2 steers $276.37/cwt +16.37 vs last sale · ≈ $1,462/hd at 529 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 336 487 541
Feeder cattle 184 325 379
Slaughter cattle 33 76 52
Replacement cattle 17 9 3

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparisons made this week due to limited comparable sales. 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
442 442 5 292.50 $292.50 $1,293 +22.50
450 450 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,238 —
452 value added 452 3 277.50 $277.50 $1,254 —
515–534 529 11 260.00–290.00 $276.37 $1,462 +16.37
710–742 735 14 218.00–220.00 $218.41 $1,605 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 value added 318 2 325.00 $325.00 $1,034 —
437 value added 437 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,311 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 242.50 $242.50 $873 +27.50
430 430 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,032 +10.00
490 490 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,176 —
680 680 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,411 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–295 280 2 240.00–245.00 $242.37 $679 -17.63
305–315 311 4 257.50–262.50 $260.02 $809 +10.02
388 388 3 257.50 $257.50 $999 —
405–425 416 4 240.00–250.00 $244.95 $1,019 -1.40
468–490 475 6 225.00–252.50 $247.35 $1,175 +6.23
495 495 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,114 +5.00
500 500 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,175 -2.50
550–595 573 2 215.00–230.00 $222.79 $1,277 -7.82
600–615 608 3 215.00–220.00 $218.36 $1,328 —
625 value added 625 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,406 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–270 265 2 270.00–275.00 $272.55 $722 -2.72
323 value added 323 3 290.00 $290.00 $937 —
350 350 2 270.00–275.00 $272.50 $954 +2.50
384 value added 384 7 273.00 $273.00 $1,048 —
400–410 407 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,099 +20.00
543 543 3 242.50 $242.50 $1,317 -5.00
570 570 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,382 +2.50
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–330 322 3 202.50–230.00 $217.53 $700 —
390 390 1 205.00 $205.00 $800 —
475–485 480 2 200.00–225.00 $212.37 $1,019 -15.13
510–545 526 4 200.00–217.50 $206.42 $1,086 -12.68
575 575 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,236 -10.00
655 655 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,277 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 222.50 $222.50 $734 -22.50
350 350 1 247.50 $247.50 $866 —
480–495 488 2 250.00–255.00 $252.46 $1,232 +25.22
505–540 526 4 240.00–245.00 $241.82 $1,272 +12.34
540 540 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,188 -9.48
660–665 663 2 195.00–200.00 $197.49 $1,309 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,120 +14.22
465 465 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,302 +17.27
515–525 520 3 250.00–272.50 $259.15 $1,348 +6.24
575–595 585 5 235.00–250.00 $241.50 $1,413 -2.43
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 320.00 $320.00 $672 —
310 310 1 300.00 $300.00 $930 -25.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1270 1158 80-85% 4 98.00–111.00 $104.70 $1,212 —
1055–1350 1195 80-85% 7 112.00–125.00 $115.21 $1,377 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715–1005 888 85-90% 3 70.00–84.00 $75.64 $672 —
935–1210 1073 85-90% 2 112.00–113.00 $112.44 $1,206 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1555 1446 75-80% 4 112.00–125.00 $116.91 $1,691 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245–2200 1736 5 143.00–152.00 $149.29 $2,592 +4.70

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825–835 830 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 835.00–941.00 $887.68
835 835 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,127.00 $1,127.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,322.00 $1,322.00
1220 1220 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,440.00 $1,440.00
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
820 820 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 677.00 $677.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
875 875 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
875–965 920 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,025.00–1,400.00 $1,221.67
975 975 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
1010 1010 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00

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Barrows & Gilts

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
125–135 130 5 65.00–72.50 $68.92 $90 +33.34
235–280 250 5 60.00–102.50 $85.71 $214 +32.50

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 1 82.50 $82.50 -49.50
100 100 1 120.00 $120.00 -90.00
100–120 110 2 200.00–245.00 $222.50 +12.50
150 150 1 270.00 $270.00 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1150 1150 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 +130.22
1215 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00 —
1225 1225 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
730 730 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —

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Families

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 165.00 $165.00 —
100 100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 165.00 $165.00 -55.00

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Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
10 10 1 45.00 $45.00 +15.00
20 20 3 40.00–65.00 $55.00 +5.00
30 30 4 37.50–87.50 $74.38 +5.21
40 40 5 60.00–72.50 $67.50 +15.00
50 50 5 67.50–82.50 $76.00 +18.50
50 50 1 42.50 $42.50 -15.00
50 50 6 100.00–132.50 $122.50 +65.00
60 60 3 145.00–160.00 $155.00 +97.50
80 80 2 105.00 $105.00 +47.50

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
70 70 —— 2 112.50 $112.50 +41.25
80 80 —— 2 75.00–87.50 $81.25 -68.75
80 80 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 1 195.00 $195.00 +45.00
80 80 —— 3 120.00–140.00 $126.67 -23.33
80 80 —— 3 82.50–95.00 $86.67 -63.33
100 100 —— 2 120.00–140.00 $130.00 —
150 150 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 175.00 $175.00 +85.00

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Pigs

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 7 60.00 $60.00 +37.50
60–68 66 9 70.00–75.00 $74.49 +51.99
80 80 2 72.50 $72.50 +50.00

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Sows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 55.00 $55.00 $204 —
460 460 1 50.00 $50.00 $230 +6.00
505–545 525 2 46.00–52.00 $48.89 $257 —
565 565 1 40.00 $40.00 $226 —

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Wether Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 1 180.00 $180.00 —
70 70 1 190.00 $190.00 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 2 280.00 $280.00 —

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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.