Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Very good demand for this large offering of steers and heifers. The market was very active at the auction as the country trade ended last week at 205.00 and started early this week at 205.00-205.50. CME Live Cattle futures were higher, but still lagging behind the cash markets. Steer and heifer weights remain very heavy, the winter has been very dry, no snow cover, and the ground is frozen as temps have been cold, helping to keep cattle gaining easily.
Slaughter lambs under 100 lbs 40.00 to 50.00 lower, 100-130 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 higher, over 130 lbs 5.00 to 8.00 lower. Moderate demand for slaughter lambs, less demand was seen for both non-traditional and traditional weight lambs as offerings have been large the last two weeks. Slaughter ewes 10.00 to 20.00 lower, moderate demand for both slaughter ewes and those replacement ewes that were 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 last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Very good demand for this large offering of steers and heifers. The market was very active at the auction as the country trade ended last week at 205.00 and started early this week at 205.00-205.50. CME Live Cattle futures were higher, but still lagging behind the cash markets. Steer and heifer weights remain very heavy, the winter has been very dry, no snow cover, and the ground is frozen as temps have been cold, helping to keep cattle gaining easily. Slaughter lambs under 100 lbs 40.00 to 50.00 lower, 100-130 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 higher, over 130 lbs 5.00 to 8.00 lower. Moderate demand for slaughter lambs, less demand was seen for both non-traditional and traditional weight lambs as offerings have been large the last two weeks. Slaughter ewes 10.00 to 20.00 lower, moderate demand for both slaughter ewes and those replacement ewes that were offered.