Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle were scarcely tested this week. Only a few freshly weaned fall born offerings were seen. Quality was mostly average. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the offering again this week. Ranchers continue to cull both cows and bulls as market conditions remain at record levels. Demand from packers buying slaughter cows and bulls was moderate this week and lighter than before the holiday, however demand from feeding buyers was mostly good to very good. Feeding buyers continued to show similar demand for cows and bulls as before the holiday. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady on all offerings, average and high dressing cows sold with steady to firm undertones, while low dressing cows sold with weak undertones. Most low dressing cows were not suitable to feed and feeding buyers showed light demand for these offerings as a result. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Demand for feeding cows remains very good from both packer buyers and private feeders. Cow quality today was average to attractive, however quality was not as attractive as last sale. Slaughter bulls sold mostly unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher, with the biggest gains seen in average dressing bulls as feeding buyers forced packers to pay higher money in order to secure offerings. Feeding bulls sold 5.00-6.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average today, however weigh up conditions were not as attractive as last sale. Many sets of cows were pushing light to moderate amounts of fill today. Temperatures warmed into the low 90s today and most cows were showing some fill. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Not very many 2 year old cows were seen today and buyers were more active buying 3 and 4 year old cows to fill orders. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive 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: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle were scarcely tested this week. Only a few freshly weaned fall born offerings were seen. Quality was mostly average. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the offering again this week. Ranchers continue to cull both cows and bulls as market conditions remain at record levels. Demand from packers buying slaughter cows and bulls was moderate this week and lighter than before the holiday, however demand from feeding buyers was mostly good to very good. Feeding buyers continued to show similar demand for cows and bulls as before the holiday. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady on all offerings, average and high dressing cows sold with steady to firm undertones, while low dressing cows sold with weak undertones. Most low dressing cows were not suitable to feed and feeding buyers showed light demand for these offerings as a result. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Demand for feeding cows remains very good from both packer buyers and private feeders. Cow quality today was average to attractive, however quality was not as attractive as last sale. Slaughter bulls sold mostly unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher, with the biggest gains seen in average dressing bulls as feeding buyers forced packers to pay higher money in order to secure offerings. Feeding bulls sold 5.00-6.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average today, however weigh up conditions were not as attractive as last sale. Many sets of cows were pushing light to moderate amounts of fill today. Temperatures warmed into the low 90s today and most cows were showing some fill. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Not very many 2 year old cows were seen today and buyers were more active buying 3 and 4 year old cows to fill orders. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive this week.