heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers$187.19/cwt≈ $1,078/hd at 576 lb · 45 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$186.84/cwt≈ $1,160/hd at 621 lb · 41 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$204.04/cwt≈ $1,053/hd at 516 lb · 39 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,650
1,643
2,251
Feeder cattle
484
706
575
Slaughter cattle
863
644
1,002
Replacement cattle
303
293
674
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all feeder offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average, but better overall compared to last week. Most calves were offered in small lots or as singles. Demand was mostly light to moderate, but noticeably stronger than last weeks pre-holiday sale. A larger buyer pool was on hand for todays sale compared to last week. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average. Most of the cow offering continues to be purchased to feed, either for the upcoming holidays, to turn out on corn stalks, or to feed to premium white. Demand for thin cows was stronger from private buyers this week as they pushed to own a significant portion of the cow supply today. Short term feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold sold steady to 3.00 higher, with the biggest increase seen for plainer quality cows which private feeding buyers pushed higher. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold unevenly steady. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week with many full cows and bulls on offer. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold sharply higher, with most sales 10.00-20.00 higher. Additional buyers entered the market this week looking for high quality rebreed type cows.
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 week: Steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all feeder offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average, but better overall compared to last week. Most calves were offered in small lots or as singles. Demand was mostly light to moderate, but noticeably stronger than last weeks pre-holiday sale. A larger buyer pool was on hand for todays sale compared to last week. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average. Most of the cow offering continues to be purchased to feed, either for the upcoming holidays, to turn out on corn stalks, or to feed to premium white. Demand for thin cows was stronger from private buyers this week as they pushed to own a significant portion of the cow supply today. Short term feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold sold steady to 3.00 higher, with the biggest increase seen for plainer quality cows which private feeding buyers pushed higher. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold unevenly steady. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week with many full cows and bulls on offer. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold sharply higher, with most sales 10.00-20.00 higher. Additional buyers entered the market this week looking for high quality rebreed type cows.