heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$235.00/cwt+6.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,401/hd at 596 lb · 19 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
607
751
1,555
Feeder cattle
87
178
153
Slaughter cattle
365
334
637
Replacement cattle
155
239
765
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested this week and last to develop any market trend. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Cattle were offered in mostly small packages or as singles. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows were sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Packers showed very good demand for slaughter cows today as all cows were purchased for immediate harvest. A limited number of cows were purchased to feed this week as mostly order buyers purchased cow to feed. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Tight cow supplies are being seen across the country as rain in the southern plains has slowed culling due to drought and dwindling spring culling in the north has further tightened supplies. Additionally, many ranchers, particularly in the northern plains, continue to buy much of the young cow supply to rebreed further tightening supplies. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Cow and bull quality was mostly attractive to very attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were average to above average. With many cows out on grass, most were emptied out and offered buyers very good yields. Young age cows sold mostly 10.00 lower as fewer takers were seen for this class of cows. Quality was not as attractive as last week and many sets on offer were mixed for age.
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested this week and last to develop any market trend. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Cattle were offered in mostly small packages or as singles. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows were sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Packers showed very good demand for slaughter cows today as all cows were purchased for immediate harvest. A limited number of cows were purchased to feed this week as mostly order buyers purchased cow to feed. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Tight cow supplies are being seen across the country as rain in the southern plains has slowed culling due to drought and dwindling spring culling in the north has further tightened supplies. Additionally, many ranchers, particularly in the northern plains, continue to buy much of the young cow supply to rebreed further tightening supplies. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Cow and bull quality was mostly attractive to very attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were average to above average. With many cows out on grass, most were emptied out and offered buyers very good yields. Young age cows sold mostly 10.00 lower as fewer takers were seen for this class of cows. Quality was not as attractive as last week and many sets on offer were mixed for age.