heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers$308.22/cwt-3.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,468/hd at 476 lb · 257 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers$273.30/cwt+7.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,310/hd at 479 lb · 167 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$265.36/cwt+4.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,519/hd at 573 lb · 158 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,760
2,632
1,943
Feeder cattle
1,299
1,313
1,359
Slaughter cattle
353
934
464
Replacement cattle
108
385
120
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a very attractive offering. Steer calves over 450 lbs sold generally steady to firm. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold 4.00-8.00 higher, heifers 450-599 lbs sold steady to firm, heifers over 600 lbs were not well compared, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive, and overall much more attractive than last week. Package sizes were larger this week with more partial loads and large packages seen. The best demand continues to be for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Buyers were willing to buy larger calves to make yearlings as long as they were in light flesh. Calves too heavy or to fleshy to make yearlings sold on light to moderate demand. Several sets of long weaned calves were seen this week and these were met with mostly good demand. CME positions have posted gains for the last few trading sessions; higher contract movement seen again today. The January contract closed 1.30 higher to close at 218.975, while the March contract closed 1.00 higher to close at 219.60. Market activity was mostly active this week with a good buyer pool on hand actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light to moderate this week and stronger than last week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking and boning cows in a narrow comparison. Lean cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher as packers competed with feeding buyers over offerings. A large portion of the cow offering was purchased to feed again this week. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly steady. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Cow flesh scores are starting to improve as many ranchers have weaned calves and cows are starting to flesh back up. A large buyer pool for thin cows continues to be seen. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average to average to start the sale but improved as the sale progressed. Young age cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand this week. Quality this week was mostly average and not as attractive as last weeks sale. This class of cows sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower. Most offerings sold to feeding buyers this week.
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: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a very attractive offering. Steer calves over 450 lbs sold generally steady to firm. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold 4.00-8.00 higher, heifers 450-599 lbs sold steady to firm, heifers over 600 lbs were not well compared, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive, and overall much more attractive than last week. Package sizes were larger this week with more partial loads and large packages seen. The best demand continues to be for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Buyers were willing to buy larger calves to make yearlings as long as they were in light flesh. Calves too heavy or to fleshy to make yearlings sold on light to moderate demand. Several sets of long weaned calves were seen this week and these were met with mostly good demand. CME positions have posted gains for the last few trading sessions; higher contract movement seen again today. The January contract closed 1.30 higher to close at 218.975, while the March contract closed 1.00 higher to close at 219.60. Market activity was mostly active this week with a good buyer pool on hand actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light to moderate this week and stronger than last week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking and boning cows in a narrow comparison. Lean cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher as packers competed with feeding buyers over offerings. A large portion of the cow offering was purchased to feed again this week. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly steady. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Cow flesh scores are starting to improve as many ranchers have weaned calves and cows are starting to flesh back up. A large buyer pool for thin cows continues to be seen. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average to average to start the sale but improved as the sale progressed. Young age cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand this week. Quality this week was mostly average and not as attractive as last weeks sale. This class of cows sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower. Most offerings sold to feeding buyers this week.