heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers$268.66/cwt+8.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,791/hd at 666 lb · 894 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$296.94/cwt+3.95 vs last sale · ≈ $1,704/hd at 574 lb · 839 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$278.89/cwt+6.89 vs last sale · ≈ $1,727/hd at 619 lb · 527 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
9,293
7,385
13,946
Feeder cattle
9,293
7,385
13,946
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 700 lbs 4.00 to 6.00 higher, over 700 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 650 lbs 8.00 to 12.00 higher, over 650 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Very good demand for feeder cattle this week, especially those light enough in weight and flesh to make yearlings of and run on summer grass. The cattle futures contracts stopped their plummet, which is adding great support to the feeder cattle market. Cash fed cattle up to 175.00 again this week, also helping to support prices at the auction. Many yearlings that were purchased last fall have a breakeven price closer to 200.00, leaving those cattle feeders with a loss and not making them want to give more for the bigger, heavier, weaned calves that must go straight to finishing yards.
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: Feeder steers under 700 lbs 4.00 to 6.00 higher, over 700 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 650 lbs 8.00 to 12.00 higher, over 650 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Very good demand for feeder cattle this week, especially those light enough in weight and flesh to make yearlings of and run on summer grass. The cattle futures contracts stopped their plummet, which is adding great support to the feeder cattle market. Cash fed cattle up to 175.00 again this week, also helping to support prices at the auction. Many yearlings that were purchased last fall have a breakeven price closer to 200.00, leaving those cattle feeders with a loss and not making them want to give more for the bigger, heavier, weaned calves that must go straight to finishing yards.