light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$285.18/cwt-11.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,486/hd at 521 lb · 1,388 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$261.07/cwt-13.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,618/hd at 620 lb · 1,013 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers$300.02/cwt-11.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,429/hd at 476 lb · 915 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
13,390
11,164
5,263
Feeder cattle
13,390
11,164
5,263
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Steer calves under 400 lbs sharply lower, over 400 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 lower. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sharply lower, over 450 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 lower. Demand for calves much moderate than has been seen since the start of the fall runs. The immense downward pressure from the futures complex has caused much uncertainty concerning the direction of the market. This collapse in the futures really came out of nowhere and blindsided cattle producers and left them reeling as it such a vast departure from where the market was pointed towards a month ago. Cattle feeders saw the fat market roll back into the 178.00-181.00 range because of the futures collapse. The confidence that cattle feeders had that the market would stay good has been shattered by this past week's downturn. calves that aren't carrying two rounds of shot, or just aren't as attractive were much harder to sell, the market was still active on the front end kind.
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 400 lbs sharply lower, over 400 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 lower. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sharply lower, over 450 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 lower. Demand for calves much moderate than has been seen since the start of the fall runs. The immense downward pressure from the futures complex has caused much uncertainty concerning the direction of the market. This collapse in the futures really came out of nowhere and blindsided cattle producers and left them reeling as it such a vast departure from where the market was pointed towards a month ago. Cattle feeders saw the fat market roll back into the 178.00-181.00 range because of the futures collapse. The confidence that cattle feeders had that the market would stay good has been shattered by this past week's downturn. calves that aren't carrying two rounds of shot, or just aren't as attractive were much harder to sell, the market was still active on the front end kind.