Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers steady to 1.00 higher. Holstein steers steady to 2.00 lower. Moderate demand prevailed again, packers showed little interest in chasing the market. A large offering of very eye appealing, attractive, high quality grading steers and heifers. 24 full loads of steers, 5 full loads of heifers. Estimated dressed cost ranged from 164.00-170.00, weighing conditions ranged from average to full, cattle carrying some tag now after the snow melted and yards got wet. Two way buyers continue to help push the market along on 1400-1450 lbs that look to be a value as packers are unwilling to push the market to par with Dec Live Cattle futures. Slaughter cows and bulls steady to firm.
Slaughter lambs mostly 3.00 to 4.00 lower. Feeder lambs not well compared. Slaughter ewes not well tested last week to offer a comparison with this week. Moderate to good demand for slaughter lambs, good demand for slaughter ewes, only moderate for feeder lambs as few feeder buyers present. The slaughter lamb market was not as active this week, fewer active buyers.
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: Slaughter steers and heifers steady to 1.00 higher. Holstein steers steady to 2.00 lower. Moderate demand prevailed again, packers showed little interest in chasing the market. A large offering of very eye appealing, attractive, high quality grading steers and heifers. 24 full loads of steers, 5 full loads of heifers. Estimated dressed cost ranged from 164.00-170.00, weighing conditions ranged from average to full, cattle carrying some tag now after the snow melted and yards got wet. Two way buyers continue to help push the market along on 1400-1450 lbs that look to be a value as packers are unwilling to push the market to par with Dec Live Cattle futures. Slaughter cows and bulls steady to firm. Slaughter lambs mostly 3.00 to 4.00 lower. Feeder lambs not well compared. Slaughter ewes not well tested last week to offer a comparison with this week. Moderate to good demand for slaughter lambs, good demand for slaughter ewes, only moderate for feeder lambs as few feeder buyers present. The slaughter lamb market was not as active this week, fewer active buyers.