light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$280.92/cwt+21.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,722/hd at 613 lb · 776 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$288.53/cwt+18.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,645/hd at 570 lb · 653 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$299.24/cwt+30.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,565/hd at 523 lb · 589 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
9,247
3,422
7,005
Feeder cattle
9,247
3,422
7,005
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs 10.00, to instances of 20.00 lower, over 450 lbs firm to instances of 10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 lower, over 400 lbs firm to instances of 10.00 higher. Moderate to good demand for spring born steer and heifer calves. This was the first big week across the state were all reported auctions saw a good number of these new crop calves. There was some pressure on the market this week as the cattle futures complex has taken a downturn, which is causing concern that the highs in the fat cattle market might have been reached already. There is still great optimism, however buyers aren't as aggressive with their bidding, this is most evident on calves that have not received two rounds of vaccinations. Large receipts expected throughout the fall now as we are in the midst of the fall marketing season.
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: Steer calves under 450 lbs 10.00, to instances of 20.00 lower, over 450 lbs firm to instances of 10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 lower, over 400 lbs firm to instances of 10.00 higher. Moderate to good demand for spring born steer and heifer calves. This was the first big week across the state were all reported auctions saw a good number of these new crop calves. There was some pressure on the market this week as the cattle futures complex has taken a downturn, which is causing concern that the highs in the fat cattle market might have been reached already. There is still great optimism, however buyers aren't as aggressive with their bidding, this is most evident on calves that have not received two rounds of vaccinations. Large receipts expected throughout the fall now as we are in the midst of the fall marketing season.