Cattle Market Pulse

Powell Livestock Market Report

Smithfield, North Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 26, 2026

574 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $388.48/cwt +0.98 vs last sale · ≈ $2,704/hd at 696 lb · 86 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $432.38/cwt +25.62 vs last sale · ≈ $2,019/hd at 467 lb · 24 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $456.23/cwt -6.18 vs last sale · ≈ $2,153/hd at 472 lb · 21 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 574 323 412
Feeder cattle 488 282 350
Slaughter cattle 76 40 52
Replacement cattle 10 1 10

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, slaughter cattle were 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Feeder cattle were slightly lower. Demand was good; market activity and buyer interest were active. Offerings of cattle were heavy. 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
422–444 431 4 457.50–500.00 $474.32 $2,044 -10.68
458–496 472 21 440.00–470.00 $456.23 $2,153 -6.18
500–540 523 8 405.00–465.00 $432.18 $2,260 +22.18
532 value added 532 2 475.00 $475.00 $2,527 —
560 value added 560 13 449.00 $449.00 $2,514 —
560–576 568 2 370.00–400.00 $385.21 $2,188 -19.17
602–648 626 12 355.00–400.00 $367.90 $2,303 -9.58
658 658 2 367.00 $367.00 $2,415 -20.50
681–699 value added 697 84 384.00–389.50 $388.99 $2,711 —
700 700 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,520 +1.70
759–786 766 4 330.00–362.50 $347.34 $2,661 —
802 802 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,566 —
808 value added 808 9 341.00 $341.00 $2,755 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 546 1 385.00 $385.00 $2,102 —
770 770 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,426 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
212–246 233 3 440.00–460.00 $446.91 $1,041 -28.09
250–290 275 4 400.00–445.00 $421.68 $1,160 +1.79
304–334 321 3 420.00–447.50 $428.69 $1,376 -6.62
354–392 378 12 400.00–460.00 $435.45 $1,646 -1.47
404 value added 404 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,899 —
418–448 436 8 417.50–460.00 $432.93 $1,888 +47.93
454–494 467 24 355.00–460.00 $432.38 $2,019 +49.53
500–548 523 19 340.00–402.50 $367.61 $1,923 +9.04
573 value added 573 14 381.00 $381.00 $2,183 -17.12
574–586 580 2 340.00–375.00 $357.32 $2,072 +21.40
610–636 621 10 312.50–360.00 $345.69 $2,147 +14.68
628 628 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,821 -41.01
656–694 678 4 285.00–350.00 $325.83 $2,209 +22.77
704–724 717 6 290.00–335.00 $309.93 $2,222 —
758 758 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,464 +55.00
802 802 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,366 +65.00
894 894 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,235 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252 252 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,033 —
320–348 333 3 400.00–410.00 $404.86 $1,348 +24.89
420–448 433 3 400.00 $400.00 $1,732 +10.00
452 452 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,582 ±0.00
500–542 519 3 290.00–365.00 $317.40 $1,647 +47.40
682 682 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,046 —
766 766 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,838 —
808 808 1 255.00 $255.00 $2,060 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312–340 323 4 290.00–350.00 $331.80 $1,072 —
350–374 364 3 280.00–350.00 $309.18 $1,125 -35.86
430–442 436 3 300.00–350.00 $331.90 $1,447 +41.90
466 466 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,282 —
630 630 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,386 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472 472 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,463 +10.00
554 554 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,496 —
712 712 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,424 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,520 -20.00
482 482 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,446 —
596 596 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,788 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
234–244 239 2 470.00–480.00 $474.90 $1,135 +54.90
256–298 278 6 450.00–510.00 $476.34 $1,324 -35.93
302–346 329 9 450.00–540.00 $484.86 $1,595 -40.90
352–398 377 19 440.00–485.00 $460.13 $1,735 -43.78
400–448 425 14 420.00–500.00 $445.33 $1,893 -25.20
456–492 471 17 405.00–455.00 $432.60 $2,038 +0.83
500–546 521 7 365.00–430.00 $395.73 $2,062 -7.11
552–599 574 9 345.00–390.00 $370.12 $2,124 -5.92
632 632 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,022 -36.80
650–696 666 5 300.00–350.00 $327.32 $2,180 -12.20
704–724 714 2 300.00 $300.00 $2,142 -20.00
750–766 758 2 300.00–325.00 $312.63 $2,370 -1.10
824 824 1 297.50 $297.50 $2,451 —
974 974 1 207.50 $207.50 $2,021 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–344 331 2 400.00–440.00 $420.79 $1,393 —
352–382 367 2 400.00–410.00 $405.20 $1,487 -33.08
402–444 430 3 400.00–420.00 $409.67 $1,762 -30.49
452 452 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,718 +60.00
464 464 1 368.00 $368.00 $1,708 +48.00
536 536 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,715 +20.00
592 592 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,894 —
610–648 629 2 300.00–317.50 $309.01 $1,944 —
664 664 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,992 —
716 716 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,790 -40.00
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374–392 382 4 275.00–365.00 $314.82 $1,203 -56.67
412 412 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,442 -8.48
470–476 473 2 290.00–300.00 $294.97 $1,395 —
502 502 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,280 —
574 574 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,464 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
336 336 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,378 —
432 432 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,771 +10.00
474 474 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,706 —
504 504 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,613 —
578 578 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,907 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458–466 462 2 355.00–360.00 $357.52 $1,652 +22.52

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
792–1066 919 85-90% 4 115.00–120.00 $118.92 $1,093 +13.43
808–1352 988 85-90% 6 130.00–150.00 $143.18 $1,415 —
944–1066 1005 85-90% 2 157.50–160.00 $158.67 $1,595 +98.67
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1088–1256 1175 80-85% 4 185.00–200.00 $193.11 $2,269 —
962–1306 1201 80-85% 6 165.00–180.00 $173.88 $2,088 +17.39
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1308–1674 1449 75-80% 4 159.00–173.00 $166.34 $2,410 +2.29

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
998 998 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,647 —
912–1746 1418 11 177.00–212.50 $195.69 $2,775 —
1714–2178 1849 6 215.00–225.00 $217.43 $4,020 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
802–1086 955 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 230.00–275.00 $248.12 $2,370
1138–1140 1139 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 226.00–235.00 $230.50 $2,625
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
630 630 (<2 yrs)Open 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,418

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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
1128 1128 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
822 822 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 240.00 $240.00 $648 —

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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.