Compared to last week: Slaughter steers 5.00 to 8.00 higher, heifers 3.00 to 5.00 higher, Holstein steers 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Demand for this light offering of eye appealing cattle was light to moderate. Packer buyers were willing to give more for cattle this week as boxed beef prices have risen sharply in the last week. Weighing conditions were favorable as most cattle were hauled in over night. Several lots of really nice clean cattle this week, very few carrying tag. Estimated dressed cost 190.00 to 198.00. Crop report came out today stating planting intentions are lower than expected for both corn and beans, resulting in both being up the limit today. Higher corn prices have resulted in seeing less slaughter steers in the 1600 lbs. Slaughter cows Breakers 2.00 to 4.00 higher, Boner and Lean steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold with sharply higher undertones in a light test.
Traditional slaughter weight lambs 3.00 to 5.00 lower, non traditional slaughter weight lambs sold with steady undertones this week. Slaughter ewes Good 2-3 steady to 2.00 lower, Good 4-5 steady, Utility 1-2 and Cull 1 too lightly tested to make a meaningful comparison. Demand for this light offering of quality sheep was moderate.
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 5.00 to 8.00 higher, heifers 3.00 to 5.00 higher, Holstein steers 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Demand for this light offering of eye appealing cattle was light to moderate. Packer buyers were willing to give more for cattle this week as boxed beef prices have risen sharply in the last week. Weighing conditions were favorable as most cattle were hauled in over night. Several lots of really nice clean cattle this week, very few carrying tag. Estimated dressed cost 190.00 to 198.00. Crop report came out today stating planting intentions are lower than expected for both corn and beans, resulting in both being up the limit today. Higher corn prices have resulted in seeing less slaughter steers in the 1600 lbs. Slaughter cows Breakers 2.00 to 4.00 higher, Boner and Lean steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold with sharply higher undertones in a light test. Traditional slaughter weight lambs 3.00 to 5.00 lower, non traditional slaughter weight lambs sold with steady undertones this week. Slaughter ewes Good 2-3 steady to 2.00 lower, Good 4-5 steady, Utility 1-2 and Cull 1 too lightly tested to make a meaningful comparison. Demand for this light offering of quality sheep was moderate.