Compared to last week: Slaughter steers too lightly tested last week for a good comparison with a higher to sharply higher undertone noticed. Slaughter heifers sold 6.00 to 8.00 higher. Demand very good on this solid offering of quality conditioned fats. Some strings of cattle carried mud covered hides into the ring. Reports of cash trades of $256 live and $396 dressed yesterday which would be sharply higher from the previous week. April live cattle contract CME futures continue to close at record highs before it expires.
Slaughter lambs under 100 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 lower. Over 100 lbs. 10.00 to 30.00 higher in spots. Feeder lambs 10.00 to 20.00 higher. Slaughter ewes 10.00 to 15.00 higher. Good demand with active bidding throughout a majority of the sale. Nice offering of younger ewes and thin fleshed feeder lambs.
▲ Slaughter cattle: Slaughter heifers sold 6.00 to 8.00 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 too lightly tested last week for a good comparison with a higher to sharply higher undertone noticed. Slaughter heifers sold 6.00 to 8.00 higher. Demand very good on this solid offering of quality conditioned fats. Some strings of cattle carried mud covered hides into the ring. Reports of cash trades of $256 live and $396 dressed yesterday which would be sharply higher from the previous week. April live cattle contract CME futures continue to close at record highs before it expires. Slaughter lambs under 100 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 lower. Over 100 lbs. 10.00 to 30.00 higher in spots. Feeder lambs 10.00 to 20.00 higher. Slaughter ewes 10.00 to 15.00 higher. Good demand with active bidding throughout a majority of the sale. Nice offering of younger ewes and thin fleshed feeder lambs.