light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers$475.00/cwt≈ $2,912/hd at 613 lb · 51 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers$507.50/cwt≈ $2,812/hd at 554 lb · 32 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers$400.42/cwt≈ $2,709/hd at 676 lb · 30 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
670
420
824
Feeder cattle
282
49
374
Slaughter cattle
240
192
252
Replacement cattle
148
179
198
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week (4-28-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good for light offerings. Most feeders were offered in moderate size groups this week. Quality this week was mostly average. Flesh conditions were ideal for buyers looking for cattle to run on grass this summer as most were in thin flesh and offered buyers very good weigh conditions. CME feeder cattle positions shot higher today as they piggybacked off higher live cattle contract prices. Feeder cattle contracts sold with strong 5.00 cwt or higher gains today for May 2026 through March 2027. 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 firm in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly average and overall not as attractive as last week. Slaughter cows sold on good demand. A couple loads of fed cows were seen this week. Demand for fed cows was very good. Fed cows sold generally steady to firm. Weigh up conditions were better this week for fed cows compared to last week. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bull quality this week was better than last week. Feeding type bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher 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 7 years old to rebreed as cow supplies remain tight.
▲ Feeder cattle: CME feeder cattle positions shot higher today as they piggybacked off higher live cattle contract prices
▲ 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 (4-28-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good for light offerings. Most feeders were offered in moderate size groups this week. Quality this week was mostly average. Flesh conditions were ideal for buyers looking for cattle to run on grass this summer as most were in thin flesh and offered buyers very good weigh conditions. CME feeder cattle positions shot higher today as they piggybacked off higher live cattle contract prices. Feeder cattle contracts sold with strong 5.00 cwt or higher gains today for May 2026 through March 2027. 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 firm in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly average and overall not as attractive as last week. Slaughter cows sold on good demand. A couple loads of fed cows were seen this week. Demand for fed cows was very good. Fed cows sold generally steady to firm. Weigh up conditions were better this week for fed cows compared to last week. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bull quality this week was better than last week. Feeding type bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher 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 7 years old to rebreed as cow supplies remain tight.