Compared to last week (4-21-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle were scarcely traded this week. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Most feeders were offered as singles this week. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. CME positions bounced back from last weeks losses as they pushed sharply higher both yesterday and today, with over 4.00 gains seen today. A small crowd was on hand for todays sale, but buyers were a mix of order buyers and ranchers. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold on very good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold steady to 4.00 higher in a narrow comparison, with the largest increase in price seen on young and high yielding cows. Slaughter cows sold on good demand. A couple loads of fed cows were seen this week. Demand for fed cows was very good. No recent sales of premium white cows were seen to make an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed compared to the last reported test the first week of April. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding type bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold generally steady to firm on very good demand. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Replacement or turn out cows sold on very good demand and buyers were willing to take older offerings up to 6 years old to rebreed as cow supplies remain tight.
→ Feeder cattle: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend
▲ Slaughter bulls: Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison
→ Slaughter cows: boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend
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 (4-21-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle were scarcely traded this week. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Most feeders were offered as singles this week. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. CME positions bounced back from last weeks losses as they pushed sharply higher both yesterday and today, with over 4.00 gains seen today. A small crowd was on hand for todays sale, but buyers were a mix of order buyers and ranchers. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold on very good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold steady to 4.00 higher in a narrow comparison, with the largest increase in price seen on young and high yielding cows. Slaughter cows sold on good demand. A couple loads of fed cows were seen this week. Demand for fed cows was very good. No recent sales of premium white cows were seen to make an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed compared to the last reported test the first week of April. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding type bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold generally steady to firm on very good demand. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Replacement or turn out cows sold on very good demand and buyers were willing to take older offerings up to 6 years old to rebreed as cow supplies remain tight.