light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$148.65/cwt-0.17 vs last sale · ≈ $782/hd at 526 lb · 398 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$151.03/cwt+1.68 vs last sale · ≈ $935/hd at 619 lb · 307 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$141.13/cwt+0.09 vs last sale · ≈ $809/hd at 573 lb · 298 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
4,178
2,403
2,620
Feeder cattle
4,126
1,960
2,560
Slaughter cattle
45
333
15
Replacement cattle
7
110
45
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last sale(December 11th): Yearling steers and heifers were not well compared. Steers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, 600 lbs and heavier sold steady to 4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Heifers weighing less than 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand did diminish late in the afternoon as buyers filled loads. Quality today was average to very attractive. Cattle were mostly long weaned today with many sets weaned 60-90 days. Cattle were very clean and open haired. Despite mild winter weather most cattle were in light flesh. Buyers continue to buy cattle suitable to run on grass on good demand. Buyers purchased calves up to 600 lbs for steers and 575 lbs for heifers to run on grass and develop into yearlings. Market activity this sale was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Not enough cows or bulls sold to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed as buyers fought over limited offerings to fill loads for the week.
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last sale(December 11th): Yearling steers and heifers were not well compared. Steers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, 600 lbs and heavier sold steady to 4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Heifers weighing less than 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand did diminish late in the afternoon as buyers filled loads. Quality today was average to very attractive. Cattle were mostly long weaned today with many sets weaned 60-90 days. Cattle were very clean and open haired. Despite mild winter weather most cattle were in light flesh. Buyers continue to buy cattle suitable to run on grass on good demand. Buyers purchased calves up to 600 lbs for steers and 575 lbs for heifers to run on grass and develop into yearlings. Market activity this sale was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Not enough cows or bulls sold to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed as buyers fought over limited offerings to fill loads for the week.