Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average and limited demand throughout the sale. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles this week. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale today. Cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand from packers was stronger this sale compared to last week. Packers showed good demand for cows to feed and send to immediate slaughter. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 4.00 higher. High dressing, high quality cows sold generally steady while low dressing cows all sold higher due to stronger demand from private feeding buyers. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher, with the biggest increase in price coming from lower quality feeding cows. Cow quality was average to very attractive today with several strings of cows off reputation ranches. Weigh up conditions were average to above average as many cows have been out on grass and were very empty at sale time. Slaughter bulls sold 4.00-8.00 higher. Very good demand was seen for bulls for immediate slaughter. Young age cows sold generally steady. Cows which lost calves sold with the best demand this week. Feeding quality cows sold at a discount to cows suitable to rebreed. Quality this week was mostly 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 cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average and limited demand throughout the sale. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles this week. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale today. Cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand from packers was stronger this sale compared to last week. Packers showed good demand for cows to feed and send to immediate slaughter. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 4.00 higher. High dressing, high quality cows sold generally steady while low dressing cows all sold higher due to stronger demand from private feeding buyers. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher, with the biggest increase in price coming from lower quality feeding cows. Cow quality was average to very attractive today with several strings of cows off reputation ranches. Weigh up conditions were average to above average as many cows have been out on grass and were very empty at sale time. Slaughter bulls sold 4.00-8.00 higher. Very good demand was seen for bulls for immediate slaughter. Young age cows sold generally steady. Cows which lost calves sold with the best demand this week. Feeding quality cows sold at a discount to cows suitable to rebreed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive.