Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers sold with steadyish undertones. Holsteins sold steady to slightly higher in a light test. Demand for this eye appealing offering of fed cattle was good. Despite the frigid temps there were buyers available to make the auction active. Most cattle were hauled in over night making weighs up favorable for the buyer. Non implant and drug free cattle were sought after today creating a small incentive for producers. Several lots carried a small amount of tag due to fluctuating weather this winter. Estimated dressed cost 248.00 - 255.00. Consumers could be a big factor concerning beef prices - what are they willing to pay in the store and what grades will they look for. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 higher. Bulls steady in a light test.
Traditional weight slaughter lambs sold steadyish in a very light test. The artic temps made for a light offering of eye appealing sheep and goats. The demand was good considering there was a light crowd today. Slaughter ewes sold with steady to higher undertones.
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 sold with steadyish undertones. Holsteins sold steady to slightly higher in a light test. Demand for this eye appealing offering of fed cattle was good. Despite the frigid temps there were buyers available to make the auction active. Most cattle were hauled in over night making weighs up favorable for the buyer. Non implant and drug free cattle were sought after today creating a small incentive for producers. Several lots carried a small amount of tag due to fluctuating weather this winter. Estimated dressed cost 248.00 - 255.00. Consumers could be a big factor concerning beef prices - what are they willing to pay in the store and what grades will they look for. Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 higher. Bulls steady in a light test. Traditional weight slaughter lambs sold steadyish in a very light test. The artic temps made for a light offering of eye appealing sheep and goats. The demand was good considering there was a light crowd today. Slaughter ewes sold with steady to higher undertones.