heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers$284.82/cwt+11.06 vs last sale · ≈ $1,334/hd at 468 lb · 148 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers$350.09/cwt+18.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,517/hd at 433 lb · 129 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$295.42/cwt+5.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,569/hd at 531 lb · 74 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
7,285
6,205
11,399
Feeder cattle
1,510
3,740
4,907
Slaughter cattle
903
1,844
2,359
Replacement cattle
4,872
621
4,133
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher; 450-599 sold steady to firm, steers over 600 lbs were not well compared. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly steady to firm, heifers 450-499 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher, heifers over 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good this week for light offerings. Quality was mixed from plain to very attractive. Package sizes were mostly small this week, but despite small package sizes buyers showed good demand for a limited offering of calves. No load lots were seen this week. Most calves were weaned this week, however buyers showed good demand for high quality unweaned calves as well. CME positions continue to show mostly positive movement as week over week improvement was seen last week and buyers showed increased demand for calves as a result. The much-anticipated cattle on feed report will be released Friday and early estimates show a large range of estimates for placements, however most analysts expect placements to be down year over year. Market activity was mostly active this week as buyers bid aggressively over limited offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Packers switched from buying feeding cows to slaughter cows as they prepare for the annual holiday lull. The best demand was seen for fleshy cows again this week. Breaking cows sold mostly steady to firm; boning cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher; lean cows sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows were purchased only by private feeders this week, however very few feeding cow buyers were in the market this week. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white and lower undertones were noticed on thin turn out or feeding cows. Most of the thin cows purchased this week were plain in quality and not as attractive as last week. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold unevenly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand this week. Young age cows sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher. Quality was average to attractive.
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: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher; 450-599 sold steady to firm, steers over 600 lbs were not well compared. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly steady to firm, heifers 450-499 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher, heifers over 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good this week for light offerings. Quality was mixed from plain to very attractive. Package sizes were mostly small this week, but despite small package sizes buyers showed good demand for a limited offering of calves. No load lots were seen this week. Most calves were weaned this week, however buyers showed good demand for high quality unweaned calves as well. CME positions continue to show mostly positive movement as week over week improvement was seen last week and buyers showed increased demand for calves as a result. The much-anticipated cattle on feed report will be released Friday and early estimates show a large range of estimates for placements, however most analysts expect placements to be down year over year. Market activity was mostly active this week as buyers bid aggressively over limited offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Packers switched from buying feeding cows to slaughter cows as they prepare for the annual holiday lull. The best demand was seen for fleshy cows again this week. Breaking cows sold mostly steady to firm; boning cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher; lean cows sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows were purchased only by private feeders this week, however very few feeding cow buyers were in the market this week. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white and lower undertones were noticed on thin turn out or feeding cows. Most of the thin cows purchased this week were plain in quality and not as attractive as last week. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold unevenly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand this week. Young age cows sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher. Quality was average to attractive.