heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$311.54/cwt+11.89 vs last sale · ≈ $1,745/hd at 560 lb · 485 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers$347.84/cwt+25.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,638/hd at 471 lb · 380 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers$318.24/cwt+20.09 vs last sale · ≈ $1,475/hd at 464 lb · 255 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
5,052
3,135
5,796
Feeder cattle
3,502
1,841
4,036
Slaughter cattle
955
1,017
1,382
Replacement cattle
595
277
378
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher on a much higher quality offering. 500-649 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, steers over 650 lbs were not well compared. Heifers under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed; heifers 400-549 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher; heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to firm undertones were noticed. Yearling offerings were not well compared. Calf quality was significantly higher this week compared to last week. More load lots and larger packages were seen this week as well, which also helped improve demand. A single load lot of yearling steers sold this week and sold on very good demand. Quality overall this sale was average to very attractive. Market activity was mostly active today with a larger buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand for heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light while feeding cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to weak in a very narrow comparison on all classes. Feeding cow demand was moderate to good with multiple private ranchers and order buyers, buying cows to feed. Feeding cows started out the day lower, however additional buyers entered the market late in the day and feeding cows increased sharply in value. This led to very wide price spreads, especially on lean cows. Private buyers continue to buy slightly lame or slightly blemished cows to but away on feed. Packer buyers were also active and buying slightly lame or blemished cows to put away to feed for the upcoming holidays. Most of these cows were normally go to slaughter. Feeding cows sold unevenly steady. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00 higher on a higher quality offering. Young cow prices fell off late in the sale as buyers filled loads. Demand was moderate to good for heavy offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive today and more attractive than last 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: Steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher on a much higher quality offering. 500-649 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, steers over 650 lbs were not well compared. Heifers under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed; heifers 400-549 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher; heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to firm undertones were noticed. Yearling offerings were not well compared. Calf quality was significantly higher this week compared to last week. More load lots and larger packages were seen this week as well, which also helped improve demand. A single load lot of yearling steers sold this week and sold on very good demand. Quality overall this sale was average to very attractive. Market activity was mostly active today with a larger buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand for heavy offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was light while feeding cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to weak in a very narrow comparison on all classes. Feeding cow demand was moderate to good with multiple private ranchers and order buyers, buying cows to feed. Feeding cows started out the day lower, however additional buyers entered the market late in the day and feeding cows increased sharply in value. This led to very wide price spreads, especially on lean cows. Private buyers continue to buy slightly lame or slightly blemished cows to but away on feed. Packer buyers were also active and buying slightly lame or blemished cows to put away to feed for the upcoming holidays. Most of these cows were normally go to slaughter. Feeding cows sold unevenly steady. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00 higher on a higher quality offering. Young cow prices fell off late in the sale as buyers filled loads. Demand was moderate to good for heavy offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive today and more attractive than last week.