Cattle Market Pulse

Powell Livestock Market Report, Smithfield, NC

Smithfield, North Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, May 7, 2026

252 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 bulls $438.15/cwt +30.04 vs last sale · ≈ $2,263/hd at 517 lb · 17 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $448.34/cwt +11.96 vs last sale · ≈ $2,094/hd at 467 lb · 17 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $462.52/cwt +13.68 vs last sale · ≈ $2,007/hd at 434 lb · 13 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 252 354 326
Feeder cattle 208 289 271
Slaughter cattle 42 59 52
Replacement cattle 2 6 3

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, slaughter cattle were 2.00 to 4.00 lower. Feeder cattle were mostly steady. Demand was good; market activity and buyer interest were active. Offerings of cattle were light. Cattle quality was plain to 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
340 340 1 565.00 $565.00 $1,921 +15.00
392 392 1 505.00 $505.00 $1,980 -50.72
418 418 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,986 —
460 460 1 430.00 $430.00 $1,978 -36.92
508–532 524 3 425.00–435.00 $430.08 $2,254 -7.74
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358 358 2 365.00 $365.00 $1,307 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 420.00 $420.00 $2,100 +20.00
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,232 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
158–180 165 3 550.00–570.00 $556.37 $918 —
216 216 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,015 +20.00
284–290 287 2 457.50–470.00 $463.68 $1,331 -3.39
342 342 2 435.00–470.00 $452.50 $1,548 -14.95
350–398 370 4 440.00–475.00 $461.45 $1,707 +2.57
412–448 434 13 450.00–480.00 $462.52 $2,007 +13.68
454–482 467 17 415.00–452.50 $448.34 $2,094 +11.96
512–542 527 5 350.00–372.50 $358.58 $1,890 -13.23
574–584 580 4 345.00–375.00 $356.20 $2,066 -4.97
662 662 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,152 -29.92
698 698 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,059 -59.92
792 792 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,297 +67.70
844 844 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,772 —
976 976 1 237.50 $237.50 $2,318 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
296 296 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,243 +9.36
316–334 323 3 400.00–420.00 $413.47 $1,336 —
396 396 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,624 —
520 520 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,820 +55.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
268 268 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,072 —
366 366 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,537 —
440 440 1 412.50 $412.50 $1,815 +12.50
514 514 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,542 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
336–342 339 2 370.00–380.00 $375.04 $1,271 —
368 368 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,141 -30.65
410 410 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,435 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
140 140 1 310.00 $310.00 $434 —
312 312 1 290.00 $290.00 $905 —
428 428 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,198 —
458 458 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,260 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274 274 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,096 —
610 610 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,586 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,243 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
156–196 168 4 575.00–620.00 $602.51 $1,012 —
238 238 1 595.00 $595.00 $1,416 +30.00
272–290 282 4 555.00–595.00 $581.28 $1,639 +81.28
300–348 332 8 495.00–580.00 $554.72 $1,842 +10.25
352–398 370 5 460.00–550.00 $506.72 $1,875 -5.77
408–446 421 7 455.00–490.00 $473.21 $1,992 -4.08
454–498 479 4 400.00–460.00 $438.43 $2,100 +50.93
504–543 516 15 377.50–491.00 $446.14 $2,302 +38.03
516–526 521 2 372.50–384.00 $378.19 $1,970 -29.92
580 580 1 385.00 $385.00 $2,233 +10.13
606–624 615 2 350.00–352.50 $351.27 $2,160 -11.73
684 684 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,189 -37.29
768 768 1 300.00 $300.00 $2,304 -10.00
952 952 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,714 —
964–985 975 2 227.50–275.00 $251.51 $2,452 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,222 —
376 376 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,579 -27.40
412 412 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,854 +50.00
516–548 532 5 335.00–375.00 $361.70 $1,924 -14.61
564–570 567 2 350.00–360.00 $355.03 $2,013 +1.63
752 752 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,880 —
760–772 767 3 200.00–210.00 $205.32 $1,575 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,848 —
482 482 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,832 -27.84
536 536 1 372.50 $372.50 $1,997 +20.58
572 572 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,116 —
744 744 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,009 —
776 776 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,552 —
836 836 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,756 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
282 282 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,128 +100.00
375–395 388 3 350.00–390.00 $377.12 $1,463 +27.12
422 422 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,688 +29.84
606 606 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,212 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396–398 397 2 400.00–440.00 $420.05 $1,668 —
422–442 432 2 420.00–430.00 $424.88 $1,835 —
464 464 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,763 +32.53
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 298 1 320.00 $320.00 $954 +60.21

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
964–1648 1193 80-85% 9 159.00–175.00 $167.45 $1,998 —
1164–1710 1323 80-85% 4 178.00–180.00 $178.99 $2,368 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
866 866 85-90% 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,429 +72.50
768–1170 970 85-90% 9 130.00–158.00 $149.71 $1,452 —
1042–1122 1082 85-90% 2 120.00–122.50 $121.30 $1,312 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1288–1526 1413 75-80% 6 140.00–157.00 $142.69 $2,016 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1106–1500 1312 4 205.00–220.00 $212.54 $2,789 —
1842–2234 2038 2 219.00–229.00 $224.48 $4,575 —

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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
1166 1166 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
878 878 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 498 1 200.00 $200.00 $996 —

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Dairy Steers

Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
176 176 1 305.00 $305.00 $537 —

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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.