light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$152.53/cwt+1.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,132/hd at 742 lb · 138 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$151.22/cwt+3.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,175/hd at 777 lb · 128 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$144.29/cwt+0.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,252/hd at 868 lb · 102 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
3,581
2,546
1,817
Feeder cattle
1,752
1,079
1,470
Slaughter cattle
1,259
1,100
235
Replacement cattle
570
367
112
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last sale (8-11-21): Yearling steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers less than 850 lbs and lower undertones were noticed on steers over 850 lbs. Steer calves sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers 700-799 lbs sold 2.00-5.00 higher, heifers 800-950 lbs sold fully steady, heifers over 950 lbs sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Heifer calves under 350 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed; 350-499 lbs heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifer calves over 500 lbs not well compared. Demand for calves was mostly moderate, while demand for yearlings was light to moderate. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to attractive. Many small packages of both calves and feeders were seen this sale forcing buyers to piece together loads. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Cows continue to sell three ways as buyers purchase them to feed, slaughter, and to return to the country to preg test. Demand from slaughter cow buyers was mixed this week, as buyers purchased cows that were mostly not suitable to feed. Fleshy breaking cows were lightly tested this this week, but these cows sold with very good demand as packers show need for these offerings to blend down the glut of lean product hitting the market. Breaking cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher, boning cows sold generally steady and lean cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Cow quality this week was plain to average. Cow yields are moving lower as many cows are in poor body condition coming off range and pasture after this summers drought. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady as several packer buyers aggressively bid on bulls this week. Bulls continue to offer buyers seasonably low yields . Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this sale. Replacement type cows sold generally steady. Demand for these offerings was moderate to good with several buyers searching for these offerings this 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 (8-11-21): Yearling steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers less than 850 lbs and lower undertones were noticed on steers over 850 lbs. Steer calves sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers 700-799 lbs sold 2.00-5.00 higher, heifers 800-950 lbs sold fully steady, heifers over 950 lbs sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Heifer calves under 350 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed; 350-499 lbs heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifer calves over 500 lbs not well compared. Demand for calves was mostly moderate, while demand for yearlings was light to moderate. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to attractive. Many small packages of both calves and feeders were seen this sale forcing buyers to piece together loads. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Cows continue to sell three ways as buyers purchase them to feed, slaughter, and to return to the country to preg test. Demand from slaughter cow buyers was mixed this week, as buyers purchased cows that were mostly not suitable to feed. Fleshy breaking cows were lightly tested this this week, but these cows sold with very good demand as packers show need for these offerings to blend down the glut of lean product hitting the market. Breaking cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher, boning cows sold generally steady and lean cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Cow quality this week was plain to average. Cow yields are moving lower as many cows are in poor body condition coming off range and pasture after this summers drought. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady as several packer buyers aggressively bid on bulls this week. Bulls continue to offer buyers seasonably low yields . Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this sale. Replacement type cows sold generally steady. Demand for these offerings was moderate to good with several buyers searching for these offerings this week.