heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$318.29/cwt+10.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,859/hd at 584 lb · 263 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$285.12/cwt-7.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,813/hd at 636 lb · 209 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$342.09/cwt+9.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,813/hd at 530 lb · 178 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,862
2,828
1,626
Feeder cattle
1,546
2,335
1,440
Slaughter cattle
198
374
157
Replacement cattle
118
119
29
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last sale: Feeder steers under 550 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, steers 550-749 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher, steers over 750 lbs were not well compared. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold steady to firm, 550-599 lbs heifers sold mostly 10.00 higher, heifers over 600 lbs were to lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Most cattle were weaned 45-100 days. Package sizes were larger this week as most packages were partial load lots, with a small selection of load lots seen. Demand for small packages or singles was lighter this week as buyers were able to put together loads easier with larger packages. CME positions were higher again today and have pushed higher since last week. The March closed today at 246.675, 5.35 higher than last Tuesdays close. The April closed at 251.70 today, 4.70 higher than last Tuesdays close. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large buyer pool noticed of both farmer feeders, ranchers and order-buyers. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was especially good as packer buyers showed need for cows for immediate harvest as well as to feed. Packers continue to try to balance buying cows to feed and cows for slaughter. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on breaking cows and boning cows, lean cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Several buyers continue to buy feeding cows as many are betting the market continues to improve. Both packer and private feeding cow buyers both pushed high quality feeding cows higher as supplies were mostly light. Feeding offerings sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Young age cows sold on mostly good demand this week. Feeding buyers continue to buy coming 2 year old's to feed, especially ones who haven't calved. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. This class of cows sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher.
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 sale: Feeder steers under 550 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, steers 550-749 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher, steers over 750 lbs were not well compared. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold steady to firm, 550-599 lbs heifers sold mostly 10.00 higher, heifers over 600 lbs were to lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Most cattle were weaned 45-100 days. Package sizes were larger this week as most packages were partial load lots, with a small selection of load lots seen. Demand for small packages or singles was lighter this week as buyers were able to put together loads easier with larger packages. CME positions were higher again today and have pushed higher since last week. The March closed today at 246.675, 5.35 higher than last Tuesdays close. The April closed at 251.70 today, 4.70 higher than last Tuesdays close. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large buyer pool noticed of both farmer feeders, ranchers and order-buyers. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was especially good as packer buyers showed need for cows for immediate harvest as well as to feed. Packers continue to try to balance buying cows to feed and cows for slaughter. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on breaking cows and boning cows, lean cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Several buyers continue to buy feeding cows as many are betting the market continues to improve. Both packer and private feeding cow buyers both pushed high quality feeding cows higher as supplies were mostly light. Feeding offerings sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Young age cows sold on mostly good demand this week. Feeding buyers continue to buy coming 2 year old's to feed, especially ones who haven't calved. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. This class of cows sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher.