Compared to last week (5-12-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Quality this week was mostly average. CME feeder cattle positions moved sharply higher today, with most contracts from August 2026-Janurary 2027 showing over 4.00 gains. The May contract moved over 1.00 higher as it nears expiration. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold on very good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes of cows. Quality this week was mostly attractive to very attractive. Many very empty cows were on offer this week as most were coming off grass. Demand for slaughter cows remains good. Packers showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. A very limited portion of the offering was purchased for slaughter this week as feeding buyers pushed prices well over packer buyers orders for slaughter cows. Weigh up conditions were mostly above average this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Private feeding bull buyers were back in the market this week and showed very good demand for any bulls which would feed. Feeding bulls sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was average to very attractive. Young age cows sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average with a few attractive offerings.
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 (5-12-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Quality this week was mostly average. CME feeder cattle positions moved sharply higher today, with most contracts from August 2026-Janurary 2027 showing over 4.00 gains. The May contract moved over 1.00 higher as it nears expiration. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold on very good demand for all cows which would feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes of cows. Quality this week was mostly attractive to very attractive. Many very empty cows were on offer this week as most were coming off grass. Demand for slaughter cows remains good. Packers showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. A very limited portion of the offering was purchased for slaughter this week as feeding buyers pushed prices well over packer buyers orders for slaughter cows. Weigh up conditions were mostly above average this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Private feeding bull buyers were back in the market this week and showed very good demand for any bulls which would feed. Feeding bulls sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was average to very attractive. Young age cows sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average with a few attractive offerings.