heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers$232.74/cwt+0.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,338/hd at 575 lb · 116 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$206.73/cwt+1.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,102/hd at 533 lb · 114 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$192.52/cwt+14.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,280/hd at 665 lb · 113 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
2,310
2,351
3,304
Feeder cattle
2,310
2,351
3,304
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week's regular sale, calves sold uneven from 5.00 lower to 5.00 higher. The supply of feeders was light following the two sales from last week. The majority of the offering was calves under 700 lbs. The largest draft of the day was 53 head with only 6 drafts over 20 head this week. Quality was below what is typical for the area following the special pre-vac sale from last week which saw many of the weaned and vaccinated feeders being marketed. Demand was moderate, many buyers still most interested in weaned and vaccinated cattle that can be turned out now. A bit of moisture lately has resulted in some mud in a few lots and pens which along with the unstable temperatures makes it really tough to keep stressed calves healthy. Futures markets remain just as unstable as the weather with sharp swings one way or the other nearly every trading day. Although today was a day of gains at the close of business the January Feeder Cattle contract was near 7.00 lower than last Tuesday.
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's regular sale, calves sold uneven from 5.00 lower to 5.00 higher. The supply of feeders was light following the two sales from last week. The majority of the offering was calves under 700 lbs. The largest draft of the day was 53 head with only 6 drafts over 20 head this week. Quality was below what is typical for the area following the special pre-vac sale from last week which saw many of the weaned and vaccinated feeders being marketed. Demand was moderate, many buyers still most interested in weaned and vaccinated cattle that can be turned out now. A bit of moisture lately has resulted in some mud in a few lots and pens which along with the unstable temperatures makes it really tough to keep stressed calves healthy. Futures markets remain just as unstable as the weather with sharp swings one way or the other nearly every trading day. Although today was a day of gains at the close of business the January Feeder Cattle contract was near 7.00 lower than last Tuesday.