Compared to last week: Slaughter steers 2.00 to 5.00 higher with few instances to 8.00 higher, heifers 3.00 to 6.00 higher, Holsteins 1.00 to 2.00 higher. Demand for this light offering was light to moderate. Weighing conditions were favorable as most cattle were hauled in over night. Most cattle were carrying 1% of their weight in tag as the weather has been wet. Buyers paid premium for the clean attractive cattle this week. Estimated dressed cost 184.00 to 189.00. Slaughter cows Breakers and Boners 2.00 to 3.00 higher, Lean sold with higher undertones in a very light test. Slaughter bulls were to lightly tested to make a valuable comparison.
Traditional slaughter weight lambs 5.00 to 6.00 higher, non traditional lambs sold with sharply lower undertones. Slaughter ewes Good 2-3 and Good 4-5 15.00 to 20.00 lower, Utility 1-2 15.00 to 17.00 lower, Cull 1 sold with lower undertones in a light test. Slaughter Bucks 1-2 sold with lower undertones in a very light test. Demand for this light offering was very good.
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 2.00 to 5.00 higher with few instances to 8.00 higher, heifers 3.00 to 6.00 higher, Holsteins 1.00 to 2.00 higher. Demand for this light offering was light to moderate. Weighing conditions were favorable as most cattle were hauled in over night. Most cattle were carrying 1% of their weight in tag as the weather has been wet. Buyers paid premium for the clean attractive cattle this week. Estimated dressed cost 184.00 to 189.00. Slaughter cows Breakers and Boners 2.00 to 3.00 higher, Lean sold with higher undertones in a very light test. Slaughter bulls were to lightly tested to make a valuable comparison. Traditional slaughter weight lambs 5.00 to 6.00 higher, non traditional lambs sold with sharply lower undertones. Slaughter ewes Good 2-3 and Good 4-5 15.00 to 20.00 lower, Utility 1-2 15.00 to 17.00 lower, Cull 1 sold with lower undertones in a light test. Slaughter Bucks 1-2 sold with lower undertones in a very light test. Demand for this light offering was very good.