Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle were scarcely tested this week. Demand for cutting bulls remains very good. Quality was mostly plain. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the offering again this week. Ranchers continue to cull cows and bulls. Very hot and dry conditions are starting to dry out pasture and range. Some cows are starting to deteriorate in body condition scores and yield. Demand from packers remains very good however cow quality limited demand slightly this week. Packers continue to put most of the cow offering on feed as they try to manage supplies. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Most low dressing cows were not suitable to feed and feeding buyers showed light demand for these offerings as a result. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average, and significantly lighter than last sale. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. The largest loss was seen in average dressing bulls as feeding buyers were mostly out of the market this week. Feeding bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower as well. Weigh up conditions were mostly average today and lower than last sale. Many sets of cows were pushing moderate amounts of fill today as temperatures warmed into the upper 90s and low 100s. Many sets of cows were tanked up on water as a result. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 10.00 higher on a more attractive offering compared to last sale. Quality was mostly average to attractive today.
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. Demand for cutting bulls remains very good. Quality was mostly plain. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the offering again this week. Ranchers continue to cull cows and bulls. Very hot and dry conditions are starting to dry out pasture and range. Some cows are starting to deteriorate in body condition scores and yield. Demand from packers remains very good however cow quality limited demand slightly this week. Packers continue to put most of the cow offering on feed as they try to manage supplies. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Most low dressing cows were not suitable to feed and feeding buyers showed light demand for these offerings as a result. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average, and significantly lighter than last sale. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. The largest loss was seen in average dressing bulls as feeding buyers were mostly out of the market this week. Feeding bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower as well. Weigh up conditions were mostly average today and lower than last sale. Many sets of cows were pushing moderate amounts of fill today as temperatures warmed into the upper 90s and low 100s. Many sets of cows were tanked up on water as a result. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 10.00 higher on a more attractive offering compared to last sale. Quality was mostly average to attractive today.