heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers$253.34/cwt+11.95 vs last sale · ≈ $1,740/hd at 687 lb · 32 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers$293.56/cwt-18.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,142/hd at 389 lb · 21 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers$243.00/cwt+0.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,528/hd at 629 lb · 18 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,942
1,640
2,870
Feeder cattle
259
599
685
Slaughter cattle
891
791
1,175
Replacement cattle
792
250
1,010
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this sale or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all steers calves on offer; heifer calves sold with steady undertones; yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeders were limited as todays sale mostly featured bred cows and weigh ups. Quality was mostly average to attractive and better overall compared to last week. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles again this week. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this sale with more buyer participation seen. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold on light demand again this week, however the majority of the cow offering was purchased to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly 4.00 to 7.00 lower. Feeding cow demand was moderate this sale. Several buyers were active in buying thin cows to feed or turn out on corn stalks this winter. These cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 2.00-3.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Cows overall were not as attractive as last week. Packers joined private feeders in buying thin cows this week as they purchased cows to put away for the upcoming holidays. Most of these cows were very thin and low or very low dressing. Notably, packers have opted to start buying holiday cows unseasonably early(2-3 weeks), as concerns of beef cow supplies weigh on buying decisions. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average today. Several packages of young age cows sold this week. Demand for these offerings was mostly good as feeding and rebreeding buyers competed over attractive offerings. Young age cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher on an attractive quality offering. A heavy offering of bred cows sold today. Demand was mostly good with several local ranchers and order buyers active in bidding on offerings. Quality was average to very attractive.
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 steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this sale or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all steers calves on offer; heifer calves sold with steady undertones; yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeders were limited as todays sale mostly featured bred cows and weigh ups. Quality was mostly average to attractive and better overall compared to last week. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles again this week. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this sale with more buyer participation seen. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold on light demand again this week, however the majority of the cow offering was purchased to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly 4.00 to 7.00 lower. Feeding cow demand was moderate this sale. Several buyers were active in buying thin cows to feed or turn out on corn stalks this winter. These cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 2.00-3.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Cows overall were not as attractive as last week. Packers joined private feeders in buying thin cows this week as they purchased cows to put away for the upcoming holidays. Most of these cows were very thin and low or very low dressing. Notably, packers have opted to start buying holiday cows unseasonably early(2-3 weeks), as concerns of beef cow supplies weigh on buying decisions. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average today. Several packages of young age cows sold this week. Demand for these offerings was mostly good as feeding and rebreeding buyers competed over attractive offerings. Young age cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher on an attractive quality offering. A heavy offering of bred cows sold today. Demand was mostly good with several local ranchers and order buyers active in bidding on offerings. Quality was average to very attractive.