Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Very good demand for this nice offering of longtime fed, high quality grading steers and heifers. The market was active as the cash market in the country was higher last week, and that carried over into this week as the CME Live Cattle contracts continue to climb this week. Cattle continue to weigh heavy as cattle feeders fed to heavier weights to maximize profitability. 6 full loads of steers, 4 full loads of heifers, balance part loads and stock trailer loads.
Slaughter lambs under 110 lbs mostly steady, over 110 lbs saw instances of 35.00 to 60.00 higher. Feeder lambs sold with steady to higher undertones. Slaughter ewes 15.00 to 20.00 higher. Good demand for non-traditional weight lambs, very good demand for those heavier, traditional weight slaughter lambs that are in a more limited supply than the light lambs currently. Good demand for feeder lambs, of which there were many consignments of those good light fleshed lambs. Very good demand for slaughter ewes.
→ Feeder cattle: Cattle continue to weigh heavy as cattle feeders fed to heavier weights to maximize profitability
→ Feeder heifers: high quality grading steers and heifers
→ Feeder steers: high quality grading steers and heifers
▲ Slaughter cattle: Slaughter steers and heifers 3.00 to 5.00 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 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Very good demand for this nice offering of longtime fed, high quality grading steers and heifers. The market was active as the cash market in the country was higher last week, and that carried over into this week as the CME Live Cattle contracts continue to climb this week. Cattle continue to weigh heavy as cattle feeders fed to heavier weights to maximize profitability. 6 full loads of steers, 4 full loads of heifers, balance part loads and stock trailer loads. Slaughter lambs under 110 lbs mostly steady, over 110 lbs saw instances of 35.00 to 60.00 higher. Feeder lambs sold with steady to higher undertones. Slaughter ewes 15.00 to 20.00 higher. Good demand for non-traditional weight lambs, very good demand for those heavier, traditional weight slaughter lambs that are in a more limited supply than the light lambs currently. Good demand for feeder lambs, of which there were many consignments of those good light fleshed lambs. Very good demand for slaughter ewes.