Cattle Market Pulse

Powell Livestock Market Report

Smithfield, North Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 30, 2026

354 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $361.17/cwt -8.25 vs last sale · ≈ $2,102/hd at 582 lb · 16 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $436.38/cwt +25.86 vs last sale · ≈ $2,051/hd at 470 lb · 14 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $448.84/cwt +7.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,943/hd at 433 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 354 463 321
Feeder cattle 289 403 272
Slaughter cattle 59 56 36
Replacement cattle 6 4 13

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, slaughter cattle were 5.00 to 10.00 lower. Feeder cattle were 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Demand was good; market activity and buyer interest were active. Offerings of cattle 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
320 320 1 550.00 $550.00 $1,760 —
350–374 368 4 550.00–557.50 $555.72 $2,045 +25.72
472–480 479 8 445.00–470.00 $466.92 $2,237 +13.55
500–526 513 2 425.00–450.00 $437.82 $2,246 +6.84
566 566 1 435.00 $435.00 $2,462 -0.44
616–632 624 6 382.50–390.00 $386.30 $2,411 +3.66
714 714 1 345.00 $345.00 $2,463 -22.50
1120 1120 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,632 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
336 336 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,411 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,040 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
144 144 1 680.00 $680.00 $979 —
242 242 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,089 —
276–290 283 2 450.00–485.00 $467.07 $1,322 -23.07
306–348 329 3 460.00–484.00 $467.45 $1,538 +1.82
354–388 368 5 440.00–490.00 $458.88 $1,689 +4.90
393 value added 393 4 498.00 $498.00 $1,957 +10.00
402–444 433 11 430.00–465.00 $448.84 $1,943 +7.11
450–488 470 14 420.00–455.00 $436.38 $2,051 +25.86
506–546 529 9 350.00–385.00 $371.81 $1,967 -8.55
556–598 582 16 330.00–382.50 $361.17 $2,102 -8.25
600–636 614 8 320.00–350.00 $341.07 $2,094 -10.10
662–672 664 5 330.00–365.00 $354.92 $2,357 -0.41
700–734 720 4 290.00–325.00 $304.93 $2,195 —
762 762 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,248 -10.00
784–798 791 2 200.00–245.00 $222.30 $1,758 -82.70
908 908 1 241.00 $241.00 $2,188 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
232 232 1 430.00 $430.00 $998 -40.00
250–284 267 2 400.00–420.00 $410.64 $1,096 —
456 456 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,733 -9.66
480 480 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,440 -89.66
546 546 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,611 —
618 618 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,916 —
696 696 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,192 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
406–432 419 2 400.00 $400.00 $1,676 —
464–496 480 2 370.00–390.00 $379.67 $1,822 —
550 550 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,760 —
680 680 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,904 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
216 216 1 320.00 $320.00 $691 —
364–376 370 2 300.00–380.00 $340.65 $1,260 -11.72
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 315.00 $315.00 $693 —
396 396 1 250.00 $250.00 $990 -70.00
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,512 -12.59

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
238 238 1 565.00 $565.00 $1,345 —
260 260 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,300 —
313–348 329 10 490.00–570.00 $544.47 $1,791 +21.57
380–382 381 2 510.00–515.00 $512.49 $1,953 +4.62
402–430 416 7 450.00–495.00 $477.29 $1,986 -1.39
450–498 466 8 420.00–490.00 $445.87 $2,078 +8.66
482 482 1 387.50 $387.50 $1,868 -49.71
504–548 523 4 380.00–470.00 $408.11 $2,134 +5.60
550–596 579 8 355.00–385.00 $374.87 $2,170 +0.04
606–648 624 9 340.00–380.00 $363.00 $2,265 +3.40
650–698 673 7 350.00–370.00 $357.29 $2,405 +19.79
708–718 713 2 332.50–370.00 $351.38 $2,505 +11.00
780 780 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,418 -29.14
830–846 838 2 240.00–277.50 $258.57 $2,167 +5.21
876 876 1 267.50 $267.50 $2,343 +9.19
1024 1024 2 231.00–250.00 $240.50 $2,463 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
178 178 1 430.00 $430.00 $765 —
202 202 1 455.00 $455.00 $919 —
310–346 328 2 470.00–480.00 $475.27 $1,559 —
354–382 368 2 445.00–450.00 $447.40 $1,646 +27.40
428 428 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,712 -50.00
464–486 476 6 380.00–430.00 $399.90 $1,904 -20.10
526–542 534 2 372.50–380.00 $376.31 $2,009 -0.61
562–584 574 6 325.00–370.00 $353.40 $2,029 +3.40
664 664 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,125 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 300.00 $300.00 $840 —
332 332 1 290.00 $290.00 $963 —
374–386 380 2 350.00 $350.00 $1,330 —
404–442 421 5 350.00–400.00 $370.16 $1,558 -4.84
460 460 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,610 +10.00
540 540 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,620 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
474–484 479 2 375.00–440.00 $407.84 $1,954 —
506–526 513 4 350.00–357.50 $351.92 $1,805 +16.00
638 638 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,042 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280–288 284 2 245.00–275.00 $259.79 $738 -90.21
322–330 325 3 300.00 $300.00 $975 -20.00
384–396 390 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,170 -50.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
55 55 2 450.00 $450.00 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462–474 468 2 345.00–350.00 $347.47 $1,626 -10.94
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 85 2 875.00 $875.00 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
746–1026 886 85-90% 2 92.50 $92.50 $820 —
742–1116 932 85-90% 12 130.00–160.00 $146.69 $1,367 +46.69
798–1260 941 85-90% 8 110.00–122.50 $115.06 $1,083 +15.06
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1202–1710 1349 75-80% 8 157.00–176.00 $164.62 $2,221 —
1380–1646 1490 75-80% 4 124.00–140.00 $133.92 $1,995 -50.82
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
980 980 80-85% 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,911 —
1046–1228 1120 80-85% 7 160.00–185.00 $171.63 $1,922 —
1132 1132 80-85% 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,472 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1082–1510 1296 2 145.00–180.00 $165.39 $2,143 —
976–1780 1533 8 200.00–220.00 $210.31 $3,224 —
1320–2402 1861 3 221.00–240.00 $226.16 $4,209 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
808 808 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,515
882 882 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,455
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
904 904 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,695
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1056 1056 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 190.00 $190.00 $2,006

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1146 1146 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00 —

↑ 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.