light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$241.04/cwt+16.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,246/hd at 517 lb · 32 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers$234.00/cwt+12.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,689/hd at 722 lb · 17 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$257.67/cwt+12.35 vs last sale · ≈ $1,572/hd at 610 lb · 15 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
835
1,180
1,376
Feeder cattle
199
258
362
Slaughter cattle
435
637
399
Replacement cattle
201
285
615
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested today or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on steers and heifers. Demand for feeders was mostly very good for light offerings. Local ranchers looking for small quantities of feeders to run on grass helped push feeder cattle prices higher as they bid aggressively against order-buyers. Quality this sale was plain to average and most feeders were offered in very small packages or as singles. Market activity was mostly active this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cow demand was very good as packers opted to put most high quality cows away on feed. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Slaughter cow prices slipped slightly this week as heavier supplies have been available to the packer due to seasonal culling at branding time. Additionally, pockets of drought across the country continues to push cows to market. Many ranchers are not holding on to cows that lost calves or come up open. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. A few buyers purchased bulls to feed which helped create competition over lightweight and low dressing bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows which had lost calves. Young offerings sold generally steady.
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: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested today or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on steers and heifers. Demand for feeders was mostly very good for light offerings. Local ranchers looking for small quantities of feeders to run on grass helped push feeder cattle prices higher as they bid aggressively against order-buyers. Quality this sale was plain to average and most feeders were offered in very small packages or as singles. Market activity was mostly active this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cow demand was very good as packers opted to put most high quality cows away on feed. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Slaughter cow prices slipped slightly this week as heavier supplies have been available to the packer due to seasonal culling at branding time. Additionally, pockets of drought across the country continues to push cows to market. Many ranchers are not holding on to cows that lost calves or come up open. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. A few buyers purchased bulls to feed which helped create competition over lightweight and low dressing bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows which had lost calves. Young offerings sold generally steady.