Compared to last week (5-20-26): Feeder cattle were scarcely traded last week and today. All offerings were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most offerings were in small packages or as singles, forcing buyers to piece together loads. Market activity was moderate with a small crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Demand was uneven at times with buyers in and out of the market throughout the day. Internet bidding was active early in the sale but slowed as buyers filled out loads. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 lower, with the bulk of sales 3.00-5.00 lower. Demand for a full load of fed cows was very good. No recent test was seen for fed cows so no comparisons can be made. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower on breaking cows. Boning and lean cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Bull quality was average to attractive but not as attractive or as high yielding as last weeks offering. Demand for young cows suitable to feed or rebreed was lighter this week. Quality was mostly average. Young cows sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower. Fewer takers were seen for this class of cattle this week.
→ Feeder cattle: Feeder cattle were scarcely traded last week and today
▼ Slaughter bulls: Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower
▼ Slaughter cows: Slaughter cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower on breaking 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 (5-20-26): Feeder cattle were scarcely traded last week and today. All offerings were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most offerings were in small packages or as singles, forcing buyers to piece together loads. Market activity was moderate with a small crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Demand was uneven at times with buyers in and out of the market throughout the day. Internet bidding was active early in the sale but slowed as buyers filled out loads. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 lower, with the bulk of sales 3.00-5.00 lower. Demand for a full load of fed cows was very good. No recent test was seen for fed cows so no comparisons can be made. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower on breaking cows. Boning and lean cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Bull quality was average to attractive but not as attractive or as high yielding as last weeks offering. Demand for young cows suitable to feed or rebreed was lighter this week. Quality was mostly average. Young cows sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower. Fewer takers were seen for this class of cattle this week.