Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Very good demand for steers and heifers this week as the cattle futures front month has risen to nearly 249.00. The market was fairly active. Cattle weights continue very heavy, packers aren't shying away from these big cattle as they grade like a house on fire and supplies are limited. 2 full loads of steers, 5 full loads of heifers, balance part loads and stock trailer loads.
Slaughter lambs under 110 lbs 30.00 to 60.00 higher, over 110 lbs sold with higher undertones. Feeder lambs sold with sharply higher undertones. Slaughter ewes mostly steady. Very good demand for those non-traditional weight slaughter lambs, improved demand for the traditional weights as well. 1 large consignment of a full load of 147 lbs lambs, otherwise supply of traditional weight fat lambs was limited. A large offering of attractive, light fleshed and weight, feeder lambs. The market was very active on all classes. Good demand for slaughter ewes on a large offering.
→ Feeder heifers: 5 full loads of heifers
→ Feeder steers: 2 full loads of steers
▲ Slaughter cattle: Slaughter steers and heifers 2.00 to 4.00 higher
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 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Very good demand for steers and heifers this week as the cattle futures front month has risen to nearly 249.00. The market was fairly active. Cattle weights continue very heavy, packers aren't shying away from these big cattle as they grade like a house on fire and supplies are limited. 2 full loads of steers, 5 full loads of heifers, balance part loads and stock trailer loads. Slaughter lambs under 110 lbs 30.00 to 60.00 higher, over 110 lbs sold with higher undertones. Feeder lambs sold with sharply higher undertones. Slaughter ewes mostly steady. Very good demand for those non-traditional weight slaughter lambs, improved demand for the traditional weights as well. 1 large consignment of a full load of 147 lbs lambs, otherwise supply of traditional weight fat lambs was limited. A large offering of attractive, light fleshed and weight, feeder lambs. The market was very active on all classes. Good demand for slaughter ewes on a large offering.