light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$158.12/cwt+7.12 vs last sale · ≈ $816/hd at 516 lb · 55 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$136.28/cwt-2.02 vs last sale · ≈ $808/hd at 593 lb · 31 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$160.00/cwt-3.54 vs last sale · ≈ $936/hd at 585 lb · 13 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
518
654
811
Feeder cattle
174
222
272
Slaughter cattle
299
309
275
Replacement cattle
45
123
264
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to two weeks ago: No sale was held last week due to extreme cold and very light offerings. Feeder cattle were too lightly tested both this week and two weeks ago to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average. Despite light feeder cattle supplies buyers were quick to bid on offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher in a narrow comparison on all classes. Packers continue to need cows for immediate harvest as extreme cold and snowy conditions have lightened available supplies. Feeding buyers showed some desire to buy cows to feed. Most of these offerings were really high quality and young age. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were very lightly tested today and were mostly lower quality and low dressing. Steady to firm undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold with higher undertones this week. Most young cows on offer freshly lost calves.
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 two weeks ago: No sale was held last week due to extreme cold and very light offerings. Feeder cattle were too lightly tested both this week and two weeks ago to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average. Despite light feeder cattle supplies buyers were quick to bid on offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher in a narrow comparison on all classes. Packers continue to need cows for immediate harvest as extreme cold and snowy conditions have lightened available supplies. Feeding buyers showed some desire to buy cows to feed. Most of these offerings were really high quality and young age. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were very lightly tested today and were mostly lower quality and low dressing. Steady to firm undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold with higher undertones this week. Most young cows on offer freshly lost calves.