light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$296.91/cwt+11.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,562/hd at 526 lb · 889 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers$311.19/cwt+12.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,487/hd at 478 lb · 883 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$279.15/cwt+0.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,613/hd at 578 lb · 837 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
11,164
3,338
10,286
Feeder cattle
11,164
3,338
10,286
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Much larger auction receipts this week after the winter storm that caused market cancellations last week. Steer calves under 550 lbs fully 10.00 higher, over 550 lbs steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, over 500 lbs 3.00 to 8.00 higher. Much better demand for calves after the weather cleared and the cash fed cattle market continues to outperform the futures contracts. Feeder Cattle futures managed to make a 4.00 rally on Thursday which really helped to spur the feeder cattle market along. Cattle producers were left reeling early last week when the futures contracts melted down, contracts have seemed to find some firmer ground which is helping the feeder market. The calf run is in full swing, especially now that a winter storm has come to the area. The producers that don't want to wean are marketing their calves now.
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: Much larger auction receipts this week after the winter storm that caused market cancellations last week. Steer calves under 550 lbs fully 10.00 higher, over 550 lbs steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, over 500 lbs 3.00 to 8.00 higher. Much better demand for calves after the weather cleared and the cash fed cattle market continues to outperform the futures contracts. Feeder Cattle futures managed to make a 4.00 rally on Thursday which really helped to spur the feeder cattle market along. Cattle producers were left reeling early last week when the futures contracts melted down, contracts have seemed to find some firmer ground which is helping the feeder market. The calf run is in full swing, especially now that a winter storm has come to the area. The producers that don't want to wean are marketing their calves now.