Ozarks Regional Stockyards Slaughter / Replacement Cattle Market Report

West Plains, Missouri · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, May 22, 2024

This is an archived report. See the latest Ozarks Regional Stockyards Slaughter / Replacement Cattle report →

Receipts

Head	This sale	Last sale	Last year
Total receipts	622	885	1,165
Slaughter cattle	407	549	729
Replacement cattle	215	336	436

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, slaughter cows and bulls were 3.00-5.00 higher. Demand was very good on a moderate supply of slaughter animals and bred cows and a light supply of pairs. As we enter grilling season the demand for ground beef has increased and as a result, prices for slaughter animals have set new records. The top slaughter bull sold for 193.00/cwt. and the top slaughter cow brought 157.00/cwt. Soil moisture has been improving weekly with more rain expected this week. Hay season is quickly approaching with farmers waiting for a few dry days to begin harvest.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Dressing	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
700–1115	812	85-90%	43	86.00–110.00	$99.24	$806	—
700–1275	895	85-90%	6	62.00–82.00	$74.53	$667	-9.86
810–1225	955	85-90%	69	115.00–128.00	$119.36	$1,140	+16.19
888–1090	996	85-90%	19	128.00–138.00	$132.03	$1,315	+28.86

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Dressing	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
1070–1225	1159	80-85%	15	115.00–120.00	$118.89	$1,378	+5.86
1010–1305	1190	80-85%	37	136.00–151.00	$141.09	$1,679	+2.98
1010–1315	1227	80-85%	74	123.00–135.00	$128.16	$1,573	—

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Dressing	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
1280–1810	1402	75-80%	30	137.00–157.00	$143.06	$2,006	+13.55
1295–1625	1418	75-80%	54	128.00–136.00	$133.24	$1,889	+3.73
1315–1620	1525	75-80%	10	110.00–119.00	$114.38	$1,744	—

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd	Δ last sale
1205–1730	1418	8	123.00–152.00	$144.40	$2,048	—
1280–2030	1545	28	154.00–172.00	$162.67	$2,513	—
1710–2125	1946	9	176.00–193.00	$183.10	$3,563	—

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Stock Cows

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd
720–935	867	(<2 yrs)	Open	11	157.50–198.00	$182.06	$1,578
700–1075	933	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	26	119.00–157.50	$140.37	$1,310

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	≈ $/hd
870–1300	1086	(<2 yrs)	Open	12	157.50–197.50	$181.23	$1,968
990–1430	1185	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	12	125.00–156.00	$140.69	$1,667

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
1115–1413	1233	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	44	1,650.00–2,250.00	$1,918.99

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
825–1125	1028	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	13	1,600.00–2,050.00	$1,840.80

Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
875–1090	995	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	All Stages (1-9 mo)	11	1,175.00–1,525.00	$1,375.22

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
1035–1175	1127	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	All Stages (1-9 mo)	3	1,400.00	$1,400.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $
925–1060	979	(<2 yrs)	All Stages (1-9 mo)	6	1,575.00–1,750.00	$1,615.51

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	Δ last sale
850–1100	929	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	4	1,550.00–2,000.00	$1,775.00	—

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	Δ last sale
1250–1365	1288	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	3	2,400.00–2,750.00	$2,633.33	—

Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	Δ last sale
700	700	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	3	1,225.00	$1,225.00	+275.00

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)	Avg wt	Age	Stage	Head	Price range	Avg $	Δ last sale
950–1055	1003	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	2	2,600.00–2,800.00	$2,700.00	—

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

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.