heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$224.21/cwt-7.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,974/hd at 880 lb · 553 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers$239.59/cwt+5.59 vs last sale · ≈ $2,104/hd at 878 lb · 348 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers$220.40/cwt≈ $2,012/hd at 913 lb · 344 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
4,203
1,175
2,845
Feeder cattle
4,043
1,110
2,685
Slaughter cattle
160
65
160
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves too lightly tested for good comparison, yearling feeder steers not well tested last week to offer a comparison, lower undertone evident. Yearling heifers unevenly steady. Moderate to good demand for this limited offering of spring born calves, lighter farmer feeder buyer attendance as they are busy with harvest. Quality of calves not as attractive as last week. Good demand for yearling steers and heifers, but cattle feeders were spooked after last week's sharp decline in the cattle futures complex and were not as aggressive with their bidding as they were in recent weeks. With Dec and Feb Live Cattle futures at 188.00 and 193.00, respectively, cattle feeders have been forced to refigure their breakeven prices which has resulted in the market not being as active as it's been lately. Many long strings of high quality yearlings offered, several of these strings offered in multiple loads of one sort. Flesh condition is certainly a factor, this week's yearlings ranged from light to moderate plus. Slaughter cows mostly steady, bulls 3.00 to 4.00 lower.
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: Steer and heifer calves too lightly tested for good comparison, yearling feeder steers not well tested last week to offer a comparison, lower undertone evident. Yearling heifers unevenly steady. Moderate to good demand for this limited offering of spring born calves, lighter farmer feeder buyer attendance as they are busy with harvest. Quality of calves not as attractive as last week. Good demand for yearling steers and heifers, but cattle feeders were spooked after last week's sharp decline in the cattle futures complex and were not as aggressive with their bidding as they were in recent weeks. With Dec and Feb Live Cattle futures at 188.00 and 193.00, respectively, cattle feeders have been forced to refigure their breakeven prices which has resulted in the market not being as active as it's been lately. Many long strings of high quality yearlings offered, several of these strings offered in multiple loads of one sort. Flesh condition is certainly a factor, this week's yearlings ranged from light to moderate plus. Slaughter cows mostly steady, bulls 3.00 to 4.00 lower.