light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$334.65/cwt+5.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,775/hd at 530 lb · 227 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$306.43/cwt+10.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,572/hd at 513 lb · 169 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers$290.05/cwt+20.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,940/hd at 669 lb · 160 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
3,179
5,052
2,203
Feeder cattle
1,812
3,502
1,169
Slaughter cattle
664
955
778
Replacement cattle
703
595
256
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. 500-649 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, steers over 650 lbs were not well compared, higher undertones were noticed. Heifers under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed; heifers 400-549 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher; heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on heifers, steers were not well compared. Calf quality was mostly average to very attractive, however quality as a whole was not as attractive as last week. Load lots sold on very good demand this week. Load lot offerings were very attractive this week. All buyers were more aggressive as they bid on offerings and tried to fill loads. Demand for high quality heifers was mostly good this sale. Several buyers purchased heifers to feed and sort for replacements. Market activity was mostly active today with a large 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 remains moderate to good. Much like last week feeding cow demand was sightly uneven. Demand started out the day mostly good, however demand moderated as buyers filled loads and exited the market. This led to wide price spreads at times, 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. Feeding cows sold steady to firm on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-6.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. A large offering of heavy weight (1050-1300 lbs) young cows sold this week. Most of these cows were just out of the reach of packers looking for high quality feeding cows. Many of these cows were purchased to feed, pregnancy check or make receipt cows and buyers gave these offerings just enough premium to keep them out of packers hands. Young age cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive today and overall not as attractive as 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 5.00-10.00 higher. 500-649 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, steers over 650 lbs were not well compared, higher undertones were noticed. Heifers under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed; heifers 400-549 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher; heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on heifers, steers were not well compared. Calf quality was mostly average to very attractive, however quality as a whole was not as attractive as last week. Load lots sold on very good demand this week. Load lot offerings were very attractive this week. All buyers were more aggressive as they bid on offerings and tried to fill loads. Demand for high quality heifers was mostly good this sale. Several buyers purchased heifers to feed and sort for replacements. Market activity was mostly active today with a large 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 remains moderate to good. Much like last week feeding cow demand was sightly uneven. Demand started out the day mostly good, however demand moderated as buyers filled loads and exited the market. This led to wide price spreads at times, 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. Feeding cows sold steady to firm on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-6.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. A large offering of heavy weight (1050-1300 lbs) young cows sold this week. Most of these cows were just out of the reach of packers looking for high quality feeding cows. Many of these cows were purchased to feed, pregnancy check or make receipt cows and buyers gave these offerings just enough premium to keep them out of packers hands. Young age cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive today and overall not as attractive as last week.