Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers mostly 7.00 to 10.00 lower. Light to moderate demand for steers and heifers this week, packers buyers were slow to start bidding, but area cattle feeders were quick to step in and buy cattle. Packer interest improved as the sale progressed. Quality remains very attractive, cattle continue to weigh heavy as the weather and the market made for very heavy cattle this winter. The market was fairly active as cattle feeders were active bidders, while packers were not as active as in recent weeks. 8 full loads of steers, 2 full loads of heifers, balance part loads and stock trailer loads.
Slaughter lambs under 120 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, 120 lbs and over mostly steady. Feeder lambs sold with higher undertones. Slaughter ewes steady to 5.00 lower. Very good demand for non-traditional weight slaughter lambs, good demand for traditional weight lambs. Moderate demand for slaughter ewes, not as many active buyers as in recent weeks. Very good demand for feeder lambs.
→ Feeder cattle: but area cattle feeders were quick to step in and buy cattle
→ Feeder heifers: 2 full loads of heifers
→ Feeder steers: 8 full loads of steers
▼ Slaughter cattle: Slaughter steers and heifers mostly 7.00 to 10.00 lower
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 mostly 7.00 to 10.00 lower. Light to moderate demand for steers and heifers this week, packers buyers were slow to start bidding, but area cattle feeders were quick to step in and buy cattle. Packer interest improved as the sale progressed. Quality remains very attractive, cattle continue to weigh heavy as the weather and the market made for very heavy cattle this winter. The market was fairly active as cattle feeders were active bidders, while packers were not as active as in recent weeks. 8 full loads of steers, 2 full loads of heifers, balance part loads and stock trailer loads. Slaughter lambs under 120 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, 120 lbs and over mostly steady. Feeder lambs sold with higher undertones. Slaughter ewes steady to 5.00 lower. Very good demand for non-traditional weight slaughter lambs, good demand for traditional weight lambs. Moderate demand for slaughter ewes, not as many active buyers as in recent weeks. Very good demand for feeder lambs.