Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Quality today was mostly plain, and lower than last week. Most cattle were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly light for very light offerings. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale today. Demand was mostly good to very good for light offerings. Packers continue to buy both feeding and slaughter cows. Packers tried to buy up as much of the offering as possible this sale. Demand from private feeders was very good. Many sets of young to middle age cows sold to private buyers as they showed strong premiums for feeding young age cows. Quality today was average. Slaughter and feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow compairson on all classes. Cow quality today was mostly average to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Demand from feeding and rebreed cow buyers continues to be good.
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 offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Quality today was mostly plain, and lower than last week. Most cattle were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly light for very light offerings. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale today. Demand was mostly good to very good for light offerings. Packers continue to buy both feeding and slaughter cows. Packers tried to buy up as much of the offering as possible this sale. Demand from private feeders was very good. Many sets of young to middle age cows sold to private buyers as they showed strong premiums for feeding young age cows. Quality today was average. Slaughter and feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow compairson on all classes. Cow quality today was mostly average to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Demand from feeding and rebreed cow buyers continues to be good.