Cattle Market Pulse

Powell Livestock Market Report

Smithfield, North Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 2, 2023

437 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Powell Livestock Market report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 bulls $215.28/cwt +21.24 vs last sale · ≈ $1,025/hd at 476 lb · 16 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $170.81/cwt +4.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,068/hd at 625 lb · 16 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $201.99/cwt +17.77 vs last sale · ≈ $848/hd at 420 lb · 14 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 437 580 551
Feeder cattle 374 474 497
Slaughter cattle 44 102 53
Replacement cattle 19 4 1

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, slaughter cattle were 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Feeder cattle were sharply higher. Demand was good; market activity and buyer interest were moderate. Offerings of cattle were moderate. Cattle quality was average. 6 baby calves sold from 40.00-90.00

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328–344 333 4 265.00–282.50 $273.72 $911 —
356–394 381 6 240.00–245.00 $241.56 $920 —
400–444 428 4 225.00–262.50 $242.55 $1,038 —
461 value added 461 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,176 —
476–494 484 4 212.50–242.50 $224.24 $1,085 +21.24
508–544 527 5 202.50–225.00 $216.36 $1,140 +21.36
552 552 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,201 +16.50
559 value added 559 8 230.00 $230.00 $1,286 —
606–634 627 7 190.00–212.00 $206.15 $1,293 —
658–690 675 3 195.00–200.00 $198.30 $1,339 +3.58
714 714 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,267 —
742 742 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,187 —
768–770 769 2 170.00–180.00 $174.99 $1,346 —
954 954 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,603 +28.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–378 374 2 180.00–200.00 $189.89 $710 —
400–436 418 2 180.00–200.00 $190.43 $796 —
480 480 1 200.00 $200.00 $960 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 162.50 $162.50 $439 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 155.00 $155.00 $465 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
236 236 1 180.00 $180.00 $425 —
256–297 283 7 185.00–200.00 $195.21 $552 +15.21
300–336 322 5 180.00–197.50 $186.54 $601 -4.08
350–390 371 8 180.00–210.00 $192.17 $713 +4.50
402–447 420 14 180.00–215.00 $201.99 $848 +17.77
458–484 472 7 185.00–210.00 $199.93 $944 +13.56
516 516 1 162.50 $162.50 $838 -20.55
519 value added 519 5 203.00 $203.00 $1,054 —
510–546 534 4 170.00–186.00 $177.65 $949 -5.40
562 562 1 160.00 $160.00 $899 -11.12
558–596 568 5 165.00–180.00 $174.89 $993 +3.77
601–644 624 14 160.00–187.00 $173.78 $1,084 +7.41
630 630 1 150.00 $150.00 $945 -16.37
636 636 1 150.00 $150.00 $954 -16.37
672–690 679 3 150.00–163.00 $157.60 $1,070 —
718–738 725 5 150.00–160.00 $152.02 $1,102 —
794 794 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,191 —
812 812 1 120.00 $120.00 $974 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
236 236 1 165.00 $165.00 $389 -5.00
254–278 262 3 170.00–175.00 $171.62 $450 +11.62
316–340 330 3 165.00–180.00 $171.84 $567 -2.30
378 378 1 162.50 $162.50 $614 -8.64
412 412 1 160.00 $160.00 $659 -7.69
474 474 1 160.00 $160.00 $758 -6.78
518 518 1 160.00 $160.00 $829 +9.86
574–598 583 3 140.00–155.00 $149.22 $870 -7.31
612–638 627 3 125.00–142.50 $132.39 $830 -5.81
656 656 1 140.00 $140.00 $918 +14.18
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
234–244 239 2 150.00 $150.00 $358 —
264 264 1 152.50 $152.50 $403 -5.78
442 442 1 160.00 $160.00 $707 +6.26
454–478 466 2 135.00–140.00 $137.56 $641 -2.44
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
212 212 1 137.50 $137.50 $292 —
306–330 318 2 130.00–140.00 $134.81 $429 -0.27
374 374 1 120.00 $120.00 $449 -3.89
414 414 1 125.00 $125.00 $518 +3.75

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
268–288 279 3 200.00–225.00 $214.40 $598 +15.01
308–316 312 2 212.50–240.00 $226.43 $706 +23.26
348 fancy 348 2 270.00 $270.00 $940 —
358–396 376 6 205.00–240.00 $225.21 $847 +35.21
400–440 414 5 210.00–250.00 $234.21 $970 +32.60
450–494 476 16 190.00–237.50 $215.28 $1,025 +21.24
504–534 516 5 180.00–205.00 $195.64 $1,010 +9.27
552–596 578 6 180.00–202.50 $187.27 $1,082 +4.77
604–644 618 10 170.00–200.00 $183.08 $1,131 +8.12
682 682 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,207 +9.50
750 750 1 120.00 $120.00 $900 -26.44
752–758 755 2 140.00–145.00 $142.49 $1,076 -3.95
822–836 829 2 140.00–145.00 $142.52 $1,181 —
956 956 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,195 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
228 228 1 180.00 $180.00 $410 —
268–294 281 4 180.00–192.50 $188.79 $530 +6.29
318–346 335 6 180.00–197.50 $186.98 $626 +4.48
354–360 358 3 180.00–182.50 $180.82 $647 +8.83
490 490 1 180.00 $180.00 $882 +11.22
504–520 514 3 160.00–170.00 $163.36 $840 +4.23
594 594 1 160.00 $160.00 $950 +32.45
618–642 627 3 160.00–165.00 $161.65 $1,014 +24.51
652–692 679 3 130.00–150.00 $143.20 $972 +7.15
722 722 1 120.00 $120.00 $866 +10.01
752 752 1 137.00 $137.00 $1,030 +27.07
810–822 816 2 112.50–114.00 $113.24 $924 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
222 222 1 170.00 $170.00 $377 —
262–278 270 2 165.00–170.00 $167.43 $452 +7.43
302–348 333 4 147.50–172.50 $162.83 $542 -2.17
358 358 1 162.50 $162.50 $582 +5.00
438 438 1 160.00 $160.00 $701 -1.63
458–486 472 2 150.00 $150.00 $708 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
794–1270 978 85-90% 8 55.00–67.00 $62.30 $609 +1.84
948–1282 1111 85-90% 7 73.00–82.50 $77.55 $862 +1.32
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1116–1286 1201 80-85% 2 98.00 $98.00 $1,177 —
1054–1414 1218 80-85% 4 83.00–92.50 $86.99 $1,060 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1314 1314 75-80% 2 74.00–76.00 $75.00 $986 —
1366–1590 1464 75-80% 4 88.00–98.00 $93.29 $1,366 +5.04

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1174 1174 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,045 +1.50
1312–1864 1632 6 100.00–116.00 $107.93 $1,761 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1012 1012 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 102.50 $102.50
1014–1096 1052 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 107.50–125.00 $120.63
1065 1065 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 122.50 $122.50
1098 1098 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 137.50 $137.50
1090–1128 1109 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 112.50–117.50 $114.96
1134 1134 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 115.00 $115.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1146 1146 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —
1148–1336 1248 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,225.00–1,475.00 $1,381.52 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
800 800 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 875.00 $875.00 +100.00
832 832 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 950.00 $950.00 +175.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
690 690 1 116.00 $116.00 $800 —

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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.