Cattle Market Pulse

Low Country Livestock Exchange Market Report

Darlington, South Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, July 16, 2024

444 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $261.15/cwt ≈ $1,346/hd at 515 lb · 26 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $298.36/cwt -2.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,421/hd at 476 lb · 14 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 444 518 449
Feeder cattle 176 270 165
Slaughter cattle 55 108 58
Replacement cattle 97 18 2

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparisons made this week on feeder steers and feeder heifers due to limited comparable sales, feeder bulls 2.50 higher, slaughter cows unevenly steady, slaughter bulls 3.50 higher based on limited comparable sales. Moderate offerings of average to good 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
400 fancy 400 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,280 —
415 415 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,245 +15.00
455–479 value added 475 12 299.00–305.00 $299.96 $1,425 -3.04
480–490 485 2 287.50–290.00 $288.74 $1,400 -6.19
520 520 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,534 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 215.00 $215.00 $731 -5.00
435 435 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,088 +30.00
485 485 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,212 +15.00
495 495 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,015 —
585 585 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,404 +5.00
623 value added 623 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,495 -15.00
630 630 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,559 —
685 685 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,421 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,256 +30.00
550 550 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,471 +17.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–285 272 3 285.00–300.00 $295.12 $803 -4.88
305–340 327 3 280.00–302.50 $292.13 $955 +8.08
405 405 1 282.50 $282.50 $1,144 +15.00
500 500 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,325 —
516 value added 516 25 261.00 $261.00 $1,347 —
611 value added 611 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,491 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–225 217 3 260.00–280.00 $273.08 $593 +3.08
250–295 273 2 252.50–280.00 $265.11 $724 —
293 value added 293 3 275.00 $275.00 $806 —
425–445 435 2 245.00–260.00 $252.33 $1,098 +22.33
450–470 460 2 250.00–265.00 $257.34 $1,184 +27.34
515–525 520 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,274 +15.00
557–565 560 3 237.50–240.00 $238.34 $1,335 +18.34
715 715 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,216 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 240.00 $240.00 $528 +20.00
275–295 285 2 250.00 $250.00 $712 —
365–375 370 2 200.00–215.00 $207.40 $767 -12.60
430 430 1 170.00 $170.00 $731 -45.00
450 450 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,035 +5.00
455 455 1 162.50 $162.50 $739 -62.50
500–520 507 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,166 -1.23
510 510 1 162.50 $162.50 $829 -68.73
550 550 3 226.00–230.00 $227.33 $1,250 +12.33
630–635 633 2 165.00 $165.00 $1,044 -47.50
660 660 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,386 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–220 210 —— 2 235.00–260.00 $246.90 $518 —
320 320 —— 1 210.00 $210.00 $672 —
350–380 360 —— 3 207.50–215.00 $210.95 $759 —
390 390 —— 1 212.50 $212.50 $829 —
423 423 —— 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,058 +15.00
440 440 —— 1 195.00 $195.00 $858 —
487 487 —— 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,144 —
530–545 538 —— 2 240.00–245.00 $242.53 $1,305 +17.53
560–580 570 —— 2 220.00–230.00 $224.91 $1,282 —
620 620 —— 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,364 —
620 620 —— 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,302 —
715 715 —— 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,484 —
810–835 823 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 125.00–130.00 $127.46 $1,049 —
810–845 828 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 130.00–135.00 $132.55 $1,098 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–240 220 —— 2 270.00–280.00 $275.45 $606 —
265 265 —— 1 297.50 $297.50 $788 —
315 315 —— 1 290.00 $290.00 $914 +10.00
425–447 439 —— 5 260.00–280.00 $263.87 $1,158 +8.87
450–490 469 —— 4 260.00–285.00 $271.11 $1,272 +8.85
515 515 —— 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,236 +6.64
505–535 517 —— 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,292 +16.64
580 580 —— 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,322 -17.00
805 805 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,570 —
985–1100 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 140.00–144.00 $141.89 $1,480 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 300.00 $300.00 $870 ±0.00
305 fancy 305 1 332.50 $332.50 $1,014 —
320–325 323 2 310.00–315.00 $312.52 $1,009 +2.52
326 value added 326 5 332.50 $332.50 $1,084 —
365–375 370 2 300.00–305.00 $302.47 $1,119 +2.61
420 420 1 302.50 $302.50 $1,270 +2.50

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1485 1150 80-85% 7 138.00–143.00 $140.48 $1,616 +9.44
1040–1445 1191 80-85% 11 121.00–136.00 $132.97 $1,584 +1.93
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935 935 85-90% 1 105.00 $105.00 $982 —
870–1245 1107 85-90% 11 124.00–143.00 $128.86 $1,426 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1570–1785 1685 4 159.00–169.00 $164.76 $2,776 —
1690 1690 1 171.00 $171.00 $2,890 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–1050 957 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 114.00–145.00 $128.34 $1,228
860–1075 999 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 108.00–136.00 $117.30 $1,172
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
650–925 787 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 77.50–120.00 $103.59 $815
815–895 860 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 93.00–130.00 $115.52 $993
935 935 (<2 yrs)Open 1 105.00 $105.00 $982
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
690 690 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 122.50 $122.50 $845

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865–1050 979 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,300.00–1,575.00 $1,476.50
930–1095 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,275.00–1,500.00 $1,411.82
865–1195 1016 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,125.00–1,650.00 $1,454.99
960–1185 1080 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,350.00–1,675.00 $1,478.90
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1205 1205 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1045–1320 1230 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,750.00–1,825.00 $1,783.28
1305 1305 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1125 1125 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,429
1060–1195 1143 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 111.00–127.00 $117.87 $1,347
Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850–980 915 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,200.00–1,250.00 $1,223.22
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
780 780 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 109.00 $109.00 $850
Small 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
870 870 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
770 770 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00

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Barrows & Gilts

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
100–182 128 9 85.00–90.00 $87.64 $112 +32.64
250–255 252 3 70.00 $70.00 $176 —
315 315 1 70.00 $70.00 $220 —
485 485 1 70.00 $70.00 $340 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 —— 1 25.00 $25.00 -125.00
50 50 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 22.50 $22.50 -127.50
50 50 —— 2 130.00–145.00 $137.50 -12.50
80 80 —— 1 130.00 $130.00 +12.50
80 80 —— 3 150.00 $150.00 +32.50
150 150 —— 1 170.00 $170.00 —
180 180 —— 1 210.00 $210.00 —
200 200 —— 1 220.00 $220.00 -170.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
905–960 925 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,800.00–1,925.00 $1,875.59 —
925–1045 985 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,725.00–1,900.00 $1,807.17 —
1055–1080 1068 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,850.00–1,900.00 $1,874.71 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
715–845 780 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,275.00–1,650.00 $1,478.13 —
895–965 922 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,450.00–1,675.00 $1,532.37 —
1000 1000 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —
1130 1130 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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Families

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
60 60 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 100.00 $100.00 -70.00
100 100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 175.00 $175.00 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
20 20 5 47.50–100.00 $65.00 +16.07
30 30 9 40.00–100.00 $66.39 +17.46
30 30 6 110.00–120.00 $113.33 +64.40
40 40 7 45.00–100.00 $76.43 +1.93
40 40 4 110.00–140.00 $123.75 +49.25
50 50 1 12.50 $12.50 -57.86
50 50 1 125.00 $125.00 +54.64

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
40–50 45 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 70.00–105.00 $87.50 —
50 50 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 102.50 $102.50 +25.00
50 50 Young (2-4 yrs)Bred 2 110.00 $110.00 +32.50
50 50 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Bred 1 107.50 $107.50 +30.00
50 50 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 82.50 $82.50 +5.00
70 70 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 72.50 $72.50 -142.50
70 70 —— 1 185.00 $185.00 -30.00
100 100 —— 1 235.00 $235.00 +70.00
100 100 —— 1 115.00 $115.00 -50.00
100–120 110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 165.00–250.00 $207.50 -31.67
150 150 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 120.00–130.00 $125.00 -163.33
150 150 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 100.00 $100.00 -188.33
180 180 —— 2 122.50–175.00 $148.75 -139.58

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Pigs

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
30 30 2 30.00 $30.00 ±0.00
35 35 2 5.00 $5.00 -25.00
50–52 51 5 50.00–60.00 $56.09 +8.59
60 60 2 62.50 $62.50 +15.00
65–67 66 7 47.50–57.50 $50.30 -24.70
73 73 4 62.50 $62.50 -12.50
79 79 5 77.50 $77.50 +2.50
80–85 83 2 77.50 $77.50 +17.50

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Sows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 70.00 $70.00 $256 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 1 200.00 $200.00 +130.00
200 200 1 350.00 $350.00 —

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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.