Cattle Market Pulse

Powell Livestock Market Report, Smithfield, NC

Smithfield, North Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 19, 2026

323 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $406.76/cwt -28.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,964/hd at 483 lb · 20 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $349.05/cwt +21.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,975/hd at 566 lb · 15 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $436.92/cwt +2.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,603/hd at 367 lb · 13 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 323 344 434
Feeder cattle 282 296 349
Slaughter cattle 40 44 78
Replacement cattle 1 4 7

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, slaughter cattle were mostly steady. Feeder cattle were sharply higher. Demand was good; market activity and buyer interest were active. Offerings of cattle were moderate. Cattle quality was average.

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
330 330 2 555.00 $555.00 $1,832 —
360–376 368 2 500.00–540.00 $519.57 $1,912 -0.43
404–416 413 4 485.00 $485.00 $2,003 —
470–490 487 6 455.00–475.00 $462.41 $2,252 —
538 538 1 410.00 $410.00 $2,206 +15.23
554–592 574 4 375.00–460.00 $404.38 $2,321 —
630–642 636 2 375.00–380.00 $377.48 $2,401 —
676 676 4 387.50 $387.50 $2,620 +36.50
704–748 733 3 357.50–360.00 $358.30 $2,626 —
1140 1140 2 255.00 $255.00 $2,907 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438 438 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,927 —
994 994 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,187 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
388 388 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,649 —
480 480 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,440 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322 322 2 300.00 $300.00 $966 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 340.00 $340.00 $918 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
234 234 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,112 +47.62
276–286 280 5 402.50–437.50 $419.89 $1,176 +3.06
300–344 325 6 400.00–450.00 $435.31 $1,415 +11.80
354–386 367 13 420.00–460.00 $436.92 $1,603 +2.94
406–440 429 5 400.00–475.00 $431.22 $1,850 -24.81
436 436 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,679 -71.03
460–498 481 14 365.00–405.00 $382.85 $1,842 -52.41
484–487 value added 487 6 425.00–470.00 $462.54 $2,253 —
502–540 521 6 335.00–380.00 $358.57 $1,868 +33.65
550–556 value added 555 4 397.50–400.00 $398.12 $2,210 —
564 564 2 310.00 $310.00 $1,748 +40.00
558–598 571 9 320.00–350.00 $335.92 $1,918 +65.92
604–646 628 5 320.00–347.50 $331.01 $2,079 +24.74
668–688 678 3 280.00–335.00 $303.06 $2,055 +8.01
703 value added 703 4 317.50 $317.50 $2,232 —
788 788 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,128 —
834 834 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,918 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344–348 346 2 375.00–385.00 $379.97 $1,315 -20.03
442 442 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,724 —
480 480 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,680 —
514 514 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,388 +10.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
352–396 374 2 395.00–400.00 $397.65 $1,487 —
420 420 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,680 +50.00
638 638 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,914 —
818 818 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,963 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
246 246 1 350.00 $350.00 $861 —
260 260 1 370.00 $370.00 $962 —
392–398 395 2 340.00–350.00 $345.04 $1,363 —
420 420 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,218 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
456 456 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,368 —
610 610 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,220 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 436 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,243 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326 326 1 300.00 $300.00 $978 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
168 168 1 480.00 $480.00 $806 —
218 218 1 420.00 $420.00 $916 -10.00
252–296 274 5 450.00–545.00 $512.27 $1,404 +69.74
300–329 316 5 515.00–547.50 $525.76 $1,661 +43.80
358–390 370 5 450.00–545.00 $503.91 $1,864 -4.10
410–430 422 5 467.50–475.00 $470.53 $1,986 +29.63
456–472 466 5 400.00–460.00 $431.77 $2,012 -0.62
508–544 521 6 370.00–445.00 $402.84 $2,099 +37.86
556–594 577 7 345.00–425.00 $376.04 $2,170 +33.73
602–630 615 5 320.00–400.00 $356.80 $2,194 +12.07
662–690 669 6 315.00–360.00 $339.52 $2,271 +8.48
732 732 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,342 —
764–768 766 2 305.00–322.50 $313.73 $2,403 —
1005 1005 2 228.00 $228.00 $2,291 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
254 254 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,143 —
362–388 381 4 402.50–465.00 $438.28 $1,670 +38.28
404–444 420 4 425.00–455.00 $440.16 $1,849 —
474 474 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,517 —
452–490 478 4 300.00–435.00 $367.49 $1,757 —
528 528 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,584 -31.20
740 740 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,146 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
222 222 1 340.00 $340.00 $755 +5.00
276 276 1 350.00 $350.00 $966 —
364–392 380 4 350.00–410.00 $371.49 $1,412 +26.49
402–448 431 3 350.00–370.00 $358.48 $1,545 +58.48
862 862 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,465 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402–416 411 3 395.00–420.00 $403.14 $1,657 +38.14
482 482 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,615 -25.00
576 576 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,642 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,841 —
406 406 2 400.00 $400.00 $1,624 +45.29
540 540 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,755 +13.49
716 716 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,790 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,134 —
434 434 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,172 —
720 720 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,278 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
125 125 1 675.00 $675.00 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
816–1034 934 85-90% 6 92.50–112.50 $105.49 $985 -27.22
804–1292 938 85-90% 7 120.00–142.50 $132.60 $1,244 -0.11
1024 1024 85-90% 1 60.00 $60.00 $614 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1124–1290 1206 80-85% 6 145.00–167.00 $156.49 $1,887 —
1328–1390 1359 80-85% 2 170.00–174.00 $172.05 $2,338 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1368–1548 1449 75-80% 5 155.00–169.00 $164.05 $2,377 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1012–1706 1452 8 177.50–207.50 $197.27 $2,864 —
2302 2302 1 225.00 $225.00 $5,180 —
2330 2330 1 170.00 $170.00 $3,961 —

↑ Back to top

Beef/Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
494 494 2 200.00 $200.00 $988 —

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
624 624 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
476 476 1 205.00 $205.00 $976 —
508 508 1 170.00 $170.00 $864 —
866 866 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,256 —
1106 1106 1 158.00 $158.00 $1,747 —

↑ Back to top

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.