light 9-weight M&L 1 steers$230.40/cwt≈ $2,105/hd at 914 lb · 312 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$203.54/cwt≈ $1,603/hd at 787 lb · 193 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers$225.83/cwt≈ $1,829/hd at 810 lb · 102 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
2,244
1,081
853
Feeder cattle
2,070
781
723
Slaughter cattle
149
275
105
Replacement cattle
25
25
25
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to limited comparisons from last week, a much larger run was offered and steer and heifer calves sold mostly from steady to 5.00 lower, however there were instances of 5.00-10.00 higher on the bigger bunches of fancy calves. There hasn't been a true test of yearlings recently but the undertone was lower except for a load of steers and a load of heifers coming off grass in thin flesh selling with a steady to higher undertone. Of course the talk around the barn Thursday was the sharply lower cattle futures that saw the largest daily losses over the recent volatility the last few weeks. However, a large supply of reputation calves and yearlings helped the market along and probably surprised some at how well price levels held up despite some spots where cattle were obviously lower. Supply was heavy and demand was mostly moderate to good, except light in spots on unweaned or fleshy calves. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-8.00 lower, bulls steady.
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 limited comparisons from last week, a much larger run was offered and steer and heifer calves sold mostly from steady to 5.00 lower, however there were instances of 5.00-10.00 higher on the bigger bunches of fancy calves. There hasn't been a true test of yearlings recently but the undertone was lower except for a load of steers and a load of heifers coming off grass in thin flesh selling with a steady to higher undertone. Of course the talk around the barn Thursday was the sharply lower cattle futures that saw the largest daily losses over the recent volatility the last few weeks. However, a large supply of reputation calves and yearlings helped the market along and probably surprised some at how well price levels held up despite some spots where cattle were obviously lower. Supply was heavy and demand was mostly moderate to good, except light in spots on unweaned or fleshy calves. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-8.00 lower, bulls steady.