Cattle Market Pulse

Missouri (Southwest) Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Missouri · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 13, 2023

13,311 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Missouri (Southwest) Weekly Cattle Auction Summary report →

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $215.15/cwt -8.49 vs last sale · ≈ $2,001/hd at 930 lb · 487 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $238.45/cwt -9.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,602/hd at 672 lb · 361 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $212.70/cwt -7.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,118/hd at 526 lb · 344 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 13,311 10,495 12,429
Feeder cattle 9,457 8,844 10,167
Slaughter cattle 1,817 1,461 1,373
Replacement cattle 2,037 190 889

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeders early week 6.00 to 12.00 lower, late week steers mostly 4.00 to 8.00 higher and heifers uneven from 3.00 lower to 5.00 higher. Slaughter cows steady to 3.00 lower, spots 5.00 lower.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–345 325 21 285.00–330.00 $315.56 $1,026 +39.56
355–395 364 37 282.50–320.00 $308.34 $1,122 -1.38
400–440 429 84 280.00–312.50 $299.63 $1,285 -4.25
459 unweaned 459 13 274.00 $274.00 $1,258 —
450–489 471 111 280.00–303.00 $291.82 $1,374 -0.57
500–549 524 174 251.00–286.00 $270.27 $1,416 -8.01
565 unweaned 565 11 258.00 $258.00 $1,458 —
551–597 568 169 245.00–281.00 $255.65 $1,452 -13.69
603–645 619 206 234.00–263.00 $242.61 $1,502 -16.80
650–698 672 361 230.00–248.00 $238.45 $1,602 -9.30
708–747 716 338 224.00–245.50 $239.49 $1,715 -6.75
757–786 765 58 223.00–243.00 $238.04 $1,821 -5.49
806–847 840 118 223.00–236.00 $224.88 $1,889 -6.15
852 852 164 228.50–232.00 $229.50 $1,955 +0.89
927–939 930 487 210.00–226.50 $215.15 $2,001 -8.49
954 954 60 215.00 $215.00 $2,051 -2.58
1003 1003 113 203.50 $203.50 $2,041 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317–349 333 13 260.00–292.00 $286.71 $955 -13.62
350–395 373 19 260.00–292.00 $284.14 $1,060 -7.62
400–448 431 116 256.00–280.00 $271.43 $1,170 -5.62
479 unweaned 479 7 260.00 $260.00 $1,245 -4.61
450–498 480 217 255.00–281.00 $266.46 $1,279 -7.87
500–548 525 134 230.00–255.00 $244.15 $1,282 -11.75
554–599 578 286 225.00–254.00 $237.55 $1,373 -13.00
563–591 unweaned 587 50 230.00–251.00 $244.80 $1,437 -2.20
600–646 620 287 215.00–235.00 $226.21 $1,403 -7.49
650–693 664 123 210.00–230.00 $223.02 $1,481 -3.33
691 691 8 210.50 $210.50 $1,455 -15.85
693 unweaned 693 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,414 —
701–748 739 120 200.00–231.00 $228.24 $1,687 -1.92
750–789 766 115 220.00–234.00 $229.56 $1,758 -5.10
803–845 824 46 190.00–221.00 $217.05 $1,788 +7.42
857–896 872 257 181.00–223.50 $218.32 $1,904 -4.68
900–932 924 13 185.00–208.00 $198.00 $1,830 -17.00
950–970 951 160 184.00–208.00 $205.12 $1,951 —
1061 1061 8 190.00 $190.00 $2,016 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–385 374 21 220.00–275.00 $261.65 $979 +5.63
410–440 427 18 230.00–257.50 $248.60 $1,062 +13.60
454–496 479 50 235.00–250.00 $242.61 $1,162 -4.48
510–530 517 18 209.00–232.00 $223.73 $1,157 +8.63
551–598 576 46 190.00–232.00 $219.88 $1,267 -10.45
625–641 636 18 195.00–203.00 $199.36 $1,268 -20.64
650–685 667 9 170.00–210.00 $189.12 $1,261 —
704–740 710 18 182.50–200.00 $196.41 $1,395 —
760 760 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,368 —
855 855 7 182.00 $182.00 $1,556 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
524 524 8 244.00 $244.00 $1,279 —
578 unweaned 578 4 228.00 $228.00 $1,318 —
605 605 9 225.00 $225.00 $1,361 —
677 677 5 234.00 $234.00 $1,584 —
703 703 12 217.00 $217.00 $1,526 —
750 750 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,500 —
1015 1015 3 175.00 $175.00 $1,776 —
1110–1123 1119 3 141.00–162.00 $155.05 $1,735 —
1270 1270 2 142.00 $142.00 $1,803 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 8 192.00 $192.00 $893 -29.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
728 728 6 221.00 $221.00 $1,609 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–340 326 12 220.00–252.00 $240.65 $785 +17.52
350–399 379 77 220.00–255.00 $241.74 $916 -6.17
417 unweaned 417 18 221.00 $221.00 $922 —
400–448 428 116 221.00–242.00 $232.03 $993 -5.78
450–498 476 153 210.00–235.00 $224.19 $1,067 -15.07
512–539 unweaned 523 40 204.00–220.00 $211.18 $1,104 -10.01
500–548 526 304 203.00–225.00 $212.90 $1,120 -7.43
554–585 unweaned 563 22 190.00–195.00 $192.87 $1,086 —
554–599 572 204 199.00–216.00 $207.70 $1,188 -12.67
601–649 625 178 190.00–214.00 $202.73 $1,267 -6.61
658 658 6 190.00 $190.00 $1,250 -20.46
658–659 unweaned 658 21 190.00–190.50 $190.38 $1,253 -19.62
650–691 675 128 188.00–214.00 $208.25 $1,406 -2.21
700–749 726 72 180.00–210.00 $204.77 $1,487 +10.63
750–797 767 167 180.00–211.00 $204.18 $1,566 —
804–848 824 44 182.00–196.00 $191.43 $1,577 +5.75
865–888 880 6 181.00–182.00 $181.67 $1,599 -18.33
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–382 371 36 265.00–275.00 $269.49 $1,000 +7.92
404–445 417 68 241.00–262.00 $250.92 $1,046 -19.75
450–497 485 95 236.00–265.00 $249.48 $1,210 -3.91
505–537 524 244 221.00–247.00 $231.92 $1,215 -14.73
550–589 566 91 214.00–225.00 $219.13 $1,240 -20.80
615 615 16 204.50 $204.50 $1,258 -22.49
602–649 620 162 206.00–231.00 $217.02 $1,346 -9.97
633 value added 633 28 219.00 $219.00 $1,386 —
653–677 666 157 204.00–217.00 $214.87 $1,431 -14.65
717–739 726 99 197.50–216.00 $207.99 $1,510 -27.65
815–825 816 163 209.00–209.75 $209.64 $1,711 -6.72
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–397 381 35 210.00–232.50 $225.11 $858 +1.07
420–444 427 31 207.00–220.00 $213.77 $913 -14.74
455–499 478 109 190.00–216.00 $207.71 $993 -12.84
503–549 524 68 170.00–200.00 $188.94 $990 +3.94
571–595 585 13 180.00–193.00 $190.35 $1,114 +1.12
605–648 633 27 175.00–192.00 $187.57 $1,187 —
651–684 666 28 180.00–194.00 $190.58 $1,269 —
729–733 730 8 173.00–180.00 $178.24 $1,301 —
752 752 14 168.00 $168.00 $1,263 —
797 797 7 183.00 $183.00 $1,459 —
810 810 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,377 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 498 6 216.00 $216.00 $1,076 —
556–578 569 14 201.00–208.00 $205.07 $1,167 —
655–677 670 18 196.00–205.00 $198.93 $1,333 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 3 170.00 $170.00 $590 —
458–488 467 10 160.00–175.00 $165.39 $772 —
603 603 2 153.00 $153.00 $923 —
722 722 7 154.50 $154.50 $1,115 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483 483 3 243.00 $243.00 $1,174 —
575 unweaned 575 7 200.00 $200.00 $1,150 —
668 668 5 192.00 $192.00 $1,283 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 3 275.00 $275.00 $899 —
368–370 369 5 280.00–281.00 $280.40 $1,035 +22.40
418 418 5 272.00 $272.00 $1,137 +35.19
450–490 464 21 240.00–256.00 $246.70 $1,145 +6.14
500–533 522 18 225.00–245.00 $230.46 $1,203 +10.41
552–594 568 42 214.00–239.00 $224.51 $1,275 +2.10
605–645 629 12 200.00–216.00 $210.51 $1,324 +1.11
650–695 668 55 185.00–216.00 $206.93 $1,382 -5.14
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462–493 481 22 210.00–232.00 $219.54 $1,056 -8.46
505–540 518 13 190.00–215.00 $204.12 $1,057 —
551–586 563 24 195.00–215.00 $206.92 $1,165 —
605–640 631 9 170.00–190.00 $175.95 $1,110 —
653–683 673 15 170.00–188.00 $182.18 $1,226 —
715 715 9 162.00 $162.00 $1,158 —
798 798 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,436 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 13 305.00 $305.00 $997 —
382 382 5 288.00 $288.00 $1,100 —
438 438 2 288.00 $288.00 $1,261 —
510–538 529 14 232.50–247.50 $239.29 $1,266 -4.76
701 701 11 214.00 $214.00 $1,500 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 9 207.00 $207.00 $859 —
498 498 3 150.00 $150.00 $747 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1240–1595 1418 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,800.00–2,950.00 $2,884.39 —
1450–1600 1512 (<2 yrs)N/A 5 2,200.00–2,700.00 $2,447.35 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1015–1390 1230 (<2 yrs)N/A 4 1,650.00–2,150.00 $1,966.21 —
1590–1860 1758 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 3 1,800.00–2,200.00 $1,958.34 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1330 1191 80-85% 55 94.00–105.00 $97.77 $1,164 —
1005–1485 1198 80-85% 475 80.00–97.00 $88.44 $1,060 —
1090–1395 1225 80-85% 30 77.50–89.00 $84.37 $1,034 -5.51
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760–1090 969 85-90% 14 40.00–66.00 $57.23 $555 -14.34
720–1237 1005 85-90% 75 55.00–80.00 $69.78 $701 —
890–1201 1049 85-90% 36 87.00–98.00 $90.82 $953 —
758–1295 1061 85-90% 274 75.00–90.50 $82.36 $874 -3.15
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1297–1590 1418 75-80% 96 79.00–89.00 $84.88 $1,204 -1.77
1205–1797 1447 75-80% 257 87.00–98.00 $91.56 $1,325 +4.91
1365–1865 1582 75-80% 23 97.50–116.00 $102.39 $1,620 -2.05

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225–2110 1510 18 85.00–106.00 $99.37 $1,500 —
1205–2250 1686 61 104.00–116.00 $109.80 $1,851 —
1465–2095 1912 19 115.00–125.00 $118.29 $2,262 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
856–1003 891 (<2 yrs)Open 13 132.50–152.50 $139.37 $1,242
715–1250 1022 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 26 95.00–130.00 $117.62 $1,202
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
825–865 845 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 20 120.00–135.00 $131.57 $1,112
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
872–885 877 (<2 yrs)Open 11 190.00–192.00 $191.27 $1,677
1188 1188 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 146.00 $146.00 $1,734
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1025 1025 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 108.00 $108.00 $1,107
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950 950 (<2 yrs)Open 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
906–1245 1100 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 48 1,110.00–1,550.00 $1,328.06
1000–1183 1127 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 14 1,100.00–1,300.00 $1,185.17
963–1268 1137 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 1,100.00–1,125.00 $1,113.44
1160 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 21 1,550.00 $1,550.00
958–1625 1166 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 342 1,225.00–1,750.00 $1,478.92
1164–1245 1188 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 22 1,025.00–1,125.00 $1,062.08
1170–1212 1189 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 20 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1195 1195 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,050.00 $1,050.00
970–1390 1208 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 70 1,050.00–1,400.00 $1,273.32
1215 1215 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,475.00 $1,475.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060–1120 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 35 1,900.00–2,000.00 $1,975.32
1125–1140 1131 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 37 1,750.00–1,860.00 $1,818.04
1058–1670 1228 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 257 1,575.00–2,450.00 $1,992.15
1204–1380 1330 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 14 1,500.00–1,525.00 $1,506.47
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890–1330 1109 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 18 925.00–1,300.00 $1,097.43
1048–1146 1110 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 1,000.00–1,050.00 $1,017.16
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
913–1158 1037 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 25 1,250.00–1,625.00 $1,422.55
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
795–970 926 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 24 850.00–1,400.00 $1,182.97
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1491–1885 1595 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 1,675.00–1,850.00 $1,745.67
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1655 1655 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 2,050.00 $2,050.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
965–1144 1053 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 79 1,685.00–2,500.00 $2,070.92
1070 1070 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 22 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1090–1235 1148 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 1,650.00–2,400.00 $2,062.33
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
710 710 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 900.00 $900.00
720–790 736 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 17 875.00–1,150.00 $944.41
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
845–938 892 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,325.00–1,375.00 $1,348.70
955–1010 973 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,550.00–1,675.00 $1,593.24
825–1295 1086 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 1,075.00–1,800.00 $1,428.75
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,300.00 $1,300.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
803 803 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 875.00 $875.00
745–870 808 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,000.00–1,050.00 $1,023.07

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
920–1070 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 2,300.00–2,400.00 $2,340.00 —
1020–1223 1114 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 19 1,600.00–2,000.00 $1,839.47 —
1160 1160 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
1167 1167 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
1030–1775 1170 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 104 1,400.00–2,400.00 $2,092.16 —
1105–1406 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 73 1,300.00–2,100.00 $1,684.93 —
1070–1463 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 15 1,950.00–2,575.00 $2,366.67 —
1243–1405 1320 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 1,675.00–1,975.00 $1,908.33 —
1334–1588 1447 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 24 1,825.00–1,925.00 $1,891.67 +16.67
1698 1698 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1045 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
1090–1140 1120 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 15 2,625.00–2,675.00 $2,645.00 —
1180–1310 1245 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,950.00–2,020.00 $1,985.00 —
1167–1299 1250 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 2,000.00–2,025.00 $2,009.38 —
1510 1510 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
940–1060 985 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 1,600.00–1,800.00 $1,725.00 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
840 840 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
927 927 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,000.00 $1,000.00 —
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1833 1833 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
978 978 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

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.