Compared to last week, Steers sold steady with a firm undertone, with Dairy Steers selling steady with a weak undertone. Heifers sold firm on a light test, with Dairy Heifers selling steady to 3.00 higher. Bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower on a light test. Breaking and Boning Cows sold 1.00-4.00 lower, with Lean cows selling steady with a weak undertone. Overall supply and buyer attendance for the slaughter cattle sale was light, with moderate overall demand. Feeder dairy bull calves 75 to 95 lbs sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower with feeder dairy bull calves 95 to 125 lbs sold 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Feeder dairy heifer calves sold steady to 5.00 lower on a light comparison. Buyer demand was moderate to good on a moderate supply.
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.
Compared to last week, Steers sold steady with a firm undertone, with Dairy Steers selling steady with a weak undertone. Heifers sold firm on a light test, with Dairy Heifers selling steady to 3.00 higher. Bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower on a light test. Breaking and Boning Cows sold 1.00-4.00 lower, with Lean cows selling steady with a weak undertone. Overall supply and buyer attendance for the slaughter cattle sale was light, with moderate overall demand. Feeder dairy bull calves 75 to 95 lbs sold 1.00 to 2.00 lower with feeder dairy bull calves 95 to 125 lbs sold 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Feeder dairy heifer calves sold steady to 5.00 lower on a light comparison. Buyer demand was moderate to good on a moderate supply.