Compared to two weeks ago: In a light test steers 5.00 to 6.00 higher, heifers too lightly tested for a complete comparison but a higher undertone was evident. Holstein steer 5.00 to 6.00 higher. Demand was good for this very light offering of steers and heifers. The market was very active and packers were willing to push the market higher. Yesterday’s snow storm made for difficult traveling conditions which caused for reduced receipts here today. Slaughter cows were 2.00 higher, bulls sold with higher undertones.
Slaughter lambs steady to instances of 4.00 higher. Slaughter ewes lightly tested, sharply higher undertones evident. Feeder lambs not tested. Good demand for slaughter lambs especially on the lambs under 100 lbs, very good demand for slaughter ewes. Good demand for the few replacement ewes offered.
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 two weeks ago: In a light test steers 5.00 to 6.00 higher, heifers too lightly tested for a complete comparison but a higher undertone was evident. Holstein steer 5.00 to 6.00 higher. Demand was good for this very light offering of steers and heifers. The market was very active and packers were willing to push the market higher. Yesterday’s snow storm made for difficult traveling conditions which caused for reduced receipts here today. Slaughter cows were 2.00 higher, bulls sold with higher undertones. Slaughter lambs steady to instances of 4.00 higher. Slaughter ewes lightly tested, sharply higher undertones evident. Feeder lambs not tested. Good demand for slaughter lambs especially on the lambs under 100 lbs, very good demand for slaughter ewes. Good demand for the few replacement ewes offered.