Cattle Market Pulse

South Carolina Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

South Carolina · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 18, 2023

2,046 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest South Carolina Weekly Livestock Auction Summary report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 2 heifers $194.33/cwt -5.44 vs last sale · ≈ $935/hd at 481 lb · 19 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 2 bulls $218.13/cwt -4.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,036/hd at 475 lb · 16 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 3 bulls $215.00/cwt +0.53 vs last sale · ≈ $804/hd at 374 lb · 16 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,046 2,282 2,922
Feeder cattle 866 1,350 1,716
Slaughter cattle 358 381 451
Replacement cattle 111 53 131

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week all classes of feeder cattle were unevenly steady, slaughter cows were steady to 2.00 higher, slaughter bulls steady.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–230 215 2 225.00–245.00 $234.30 $504 -10.70
310 310 1 240.00 $240.00 $744 -0.06
370 370 5 250.00–255.00 $251.00 $929 +8.19
425–435 430 2 192.50–230.00 $211.47 $909 -23.41
450–455 453 2 210.00 $210.00 $951 -13.04
505–515 510 2 210.00–235.00 $222.38 $1,134 -6.94
550–595 570 6 200.00–225.00 $214.28 $1,221 -3.05
605–645 632 3 190.00–210.00 $200.00 $1,264 -12.32
655–690 676 4 187.50–190.00 $189.12 $1,278 -3.50
725 725 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,414 +5.50
755–765 762 3 180.00–186.00 $181.98 $1,387 —
805 805 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,409 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 270.00 $270.00 $810 +10.05
395 395 1 245.00 $245.00 $968 -15.00
400–445 426 4 230.00–245.00 $239.57 $1,021 -13.90
418–440 fancy 429 2 267.50–285.00 $276.03 $1,184 -12.10
479–480 479 5 250.00–255.00 $254.00 $1,217 +11.95
530–545 538 2 245.00–248.00 $246.52 $1,326 -10.52
615 615 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,279 —
605–640 620 4 220.00–225.00 $222.85 $1,382 —
655 655 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,421 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–485 478 2 175.00–200.00 $187.70 $897 -17.00
630 630 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,184 —
700 700 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,190 —
782 782 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,251 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–235 218 2 190.00 $190.00 $414 —
260–290 274 4 185.00–195.00 $190.02 $521 +0.02
310–340 322 7 177.50–195.00 $185.31 $597 -8.38
350–390 364 8 180.00–190.00 $185.24 $674 -1.47
400–445 423 12 175.00–190.00 $181.67 $768 -2.51
455–490 474 11 170.00–187.50 $178.59 $847 -8.89
505–540 526 14 172.50–185.00 $177.47 $933 -6.11
550–595 568 12 170.00–180.00 $175.94 $999 -2.74
600–615 607 5 170.00–177.00 $174.00 $1,056 -1.99
710 710 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,100 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–235 218 2 200.00–205.00 $202.70 $442 +2.70
255–295 277 16 195.00–215.00 $204.36 $566 +0.90
315–345 334 8 195.00–205.00 $200.35 $669 -6.37
355–395 379 16 195.00–210.00 $201.23 $763 -4.74
400–440 412 7 195.00–210.00 $203.00 $836 +1.19
450–498 481 19 170.00–207.50 $194.33 $935 -5.44
515–540 525 3 190.00–195.00 $191.65 $1,006 -4.49
555 555 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,027 -4.82
600–640 620 2 180.00–185.00 $182.42 $1,131 -5.51
655 655 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,081 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–240 218 5 240.00–250.00 $242.75 $529 +0.87
250–290 269 6 210.00–235.00 $220.05 $592 -7.08
305–335 319 4 210.00–230.00 $220.08 $702 -3.80
350–385 359 7 208.00–225.00 $217.29 $780 -1.51
385 fancy 385 1 247.00 $247.00 $951 —
405–445 424 14 200.00–226.00 $212.39 $901 -4.11
450–485 475 13 200.00–217.50 $203.99 $969 -6.58
500–510 505 2 205.00 $205.00 $1,035 -1.91
560–584 582 11 200.00–206.00 $205.48 $1,196 +6.72
603–630 610 4 188.00–200.00 $191.10 $1,166 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 135.00 $135.00 $506 —
625 625 1 130.00 $130.00 $812 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 170.00 $170.00 $536 —
545 545 1 155.00 $155.00 $845 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–240 228 5 240.00–250.00 $244.14 $557 +2.35
250–295 273 5 210.00–250.00 $228.77 $625 -5.17
305–340 319 14 220.00–250.00 $236.37 $754 +0.55
350–395 376 12 200.00–250.00 $229.51 $863 -3.08
400–445 418 6 210.00–230.00 $219.09 $916 -4.70
455–495 475 16 200.00–235.00 $218.13 $1,036 -4.49
500–545 517 9 200.00–235.00 $215.40 $1,114 +3.77
550–593 579 12 185.00–215.00 $199.38 $1,154 -7.86
625 625 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,219 -7.00
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–225 218 2 200.00–230.00 $215.52 $470 +0.52
250–295 271 7 200.00–225.00 $215.24 $583 +0.31
320–345 333 2 205.00–210.00 $207.59 $691 -0.43
350–395 374 16 180.00–235.00 $215.00 $804 +0.53
410–445 424 7 175.00–215.00 $196.99 $835 -11.18
450–495 478 6 170.00–215.00 $202.20 $967 +2.21
515–545 535 9 170.00–215.00 $192.97 $1,032 -5.69
555–595 579 7 170.00–205.00 $183.22 $1,061 -6.02
610–640 622 3 165.00–185.00 $176.77 $1,100 -3.10
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–240 233 2 265.00–270.00 $267.58 $623 —
260–275 268 2 260.00–270.00 $265.14 $711 +0.19
255–295 fancy 275 2 290.00–305.00 $296.95 $817 +1.95
310 fancy 310 1 290.00 $290.00 $899 -6.21
315–330 324 4 250.00–280.00 $268.88 $871 -6.70
355 fancy 355 1 280.00 $280.00 $994 -8.56
365–375 370 4 265.00–285.00 $273.70 $1,013 +3.40
410–436 428 14 250.00–265.00 $257.86 $1,104 +4.89
455–475 463 4 235.00–252.50 $243.09 $1,126 -6.62
500–545 526 9 215.00–235.00 $226.67 $1,192 -13.35
560 560 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,232 -6.52
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 1 155.00 $155.00 $798 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 150.00 $150.00 $682 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–1380 1139 80-85% 32 70.00–88.00 $82.43 $939 —
1130–1310 1217 80-85% 3 98.00–114.00 $103.92 $1,265 +21.25
915–2015 1240 80-85% 118 88.00–114.00 $99.34 $1,232 -3.00
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575–1140 768 85-90% 6 31.00–60.00 $48.77 $375 —
670–1545 924 85-90% 34 70.00–89.00 $81.34 $752 —
780–1935 1032 85-90% 19 87.00–98.00 $92.55 $955 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1410–1505 1458 75-80% 2 85.00–86.00 $85.52 $1,247 —
1350–1780 1485 75-80% 27 92.00–110.00 $99.71 $1,481 —
1240–1720 1487 75-80% 3 103.00–116.00 $108.01 $1,606 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–2720 1253 13 74.00–113.00 $101.19 $1,268 —
1090–2075 1602 33 100.00–130.00 $118.46 $1,898 —
1610–2095 1851 5 115.00–136.00 $127.02 $2,351 —

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Stock Cows

Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
610–760 664 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 600.00–775.00 $668.26
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1090 956 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 90.00–97.00 $93.60 $895
Small 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
635–830 760 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 600.00–910.00 $781.06
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
785 785 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 500.00 $500.00

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Bred Cows

Small 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
635–845 730 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 650.00–975.00 $833.41
770 770 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
810 810 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 730.00 $730.00
670–980 853 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 700.00–1,005.00 $850.01
765–980 855 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 770.00–1,075.00 $888.10
970 970 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945–1035 990 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 900.00–975.00 $939.20
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
1080–1440 1181 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,050.00–1,410.00 $1,200.14
995–1430 1211 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 900.00–1,550.00 $1,234.93
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
935–1130 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,050.00–1,200.00 $1,153.25
1015–1310 1123 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,025.00–1,200.00 $1,130.91
1035–1240 1138 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,125.00 $1,113.63
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
615 615 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 530.00 $530.00
645 645 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 500.00 $500.00
675–750 713 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 425.00–575.00 $503.95
Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
640–760 700 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 700.00 $700.00

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Barrows & Gilts

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
103–130 108 5 32.50–40.00 $34.30 $37 -25.07
106–140 117 6 80.00–85.00 $81.99 $96 +22.62
103–195 137 41 70.00–150.00 $108.58 $149 +49.21
200–295 244 41 60.00–140.00 $102.80 $251 +15.68
270 270 1 30.00 $30.00 $81 —
265–280 272 3 42.50–85.00 $70.06 $191 —
320–380 338 5 70.00–92.50 $84.88 $287 +3.04
310–398 386 58 28.00–85.00 $30.88 $119 —
402–425 406 60 28.00–75.00 $29.26 $119 -23.98
401–487 435 36 30.00–85.00 $33.46 $146 -19.78
535 535 1 52.50 $52.50 $281 -27.50
520–555 539 5 45.00–60.00 $52.40 $282 —
555 555 1 30.00 $30.00 $166 -27.50
610 610 1 72.50 $72.50 $442 —

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Boars

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 16.00 $16.00 $53 —
375 375 1 5.00 $5.00 $19 —
525 525 1 12.50 $12.50 $66 —
635 635 1 15.00 $15.00 $95 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 1 55.00 $55.00 -55.00
60–65 63 2 165.00–180.00 $172.50 -39.17
70 70 6 115.00–130.00 $121.67 +16.67
70 70 11 145.00–165.00 $154.09 +49.09
70 70 3 75.00 $75.00 -30.00
80 80 1 115.00 $115.00 +32.50
80 80 10 80.00–105.00 $95.00 +12.50
80 80 2 130.00–175.00 $152.50 +70.00
80–89 85 2 75.00–90.00 $82.50 ±0.00
99 99 1 100.00 $100.00 +17.50
100–125 105 7 200.00–225.00 $209.29 +99.29
110–129 120 2 100.00–190.00 $145.00 -88.33
110–130 127 6 140.00–230.00 $167.50 +32.50

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
600–1145 806 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 1,075.00–1,475.00 $1,204.69 —
930 930 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00 -191.87
915–955 937 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,125.00–1,300.00 $1,207.47 -159.40
900–1175 1019 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,225.00–1,625.00 $1,406.84 -168.16
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
925 925 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00 —
720–1315 940 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 900.00–1,400.00 $1,158.69 —
990–1005 998 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,300.00–1,475.00 $1,386.84 —
Small 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
615 615 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 800.00 $800.00 —
690 690 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 800.00 $800.00 -25.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
595 595 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 950.00 $950.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1070 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,560.00 $1,560.00 —
Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
720 720 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 875.00 $875.00 —
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
785 785 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 775.00 $775.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 85.00 $85.00 $502 —
610 610 1 110.00 $110.00 $671 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 2 137.50 $137.50 $626 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 123.00 $123.00 $400 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
15 15 2 55.00–70.00 $62.50 +36.00
20 20 5 35.00–40.00 $39.00 +12.50
20 20 1 65.00 $65.00 +38.50
30 30 1 120.00 $120.00 +70.00
30 30 9 30.00–40.00 $33.33 -16.67
30 30 20 45.00–80.00 $62.75 +12.75
30 30 2 30.00 $30.00 -20.00
40 40 3 50.00 $50.00 -41.11
40 40 9 70.00–100.00 $81.67 -9.44
40–49 41 10 50.00–90.00 $65.00 -26.11
40–45 42 3 130.00–160.00 $146.67 +55.56
45 45 3 100.00 $100.00 +8.89
50 50 13 95.00–140.00 $107.31 -8.52
60–69 65 2 60.00–85.00 $72.50 -67.50
70 70 1 180.00 $180.00 +40.00
70–79 75 2 100.00–110.00 $105.00 -35.00
80–89 85 2 120.00–130.00 $125.00 -15.00
100 100 1 210.00 $210.00 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
40 40 4 80.00–90.00 $85.00 —
50 50 7 55.00–80.00 $71.43 +4.76
50 50 14 125.00–135.00 $129.29 +62.62
50 50 4 50.00–60.00 $52.50 -14.17
50–55 51 15 125.00–190.00 $150.67 +84.00
60 60 1 220.00 $220.00 +7.50
60 60 1 145.00 $145.00 -67.50
70 70 2 95.00 $95.00 -140.00
70 70 7 120.00–170.00 $152.14 -82.86
70 70 1 150.00 $150.00 -85.00
80 80 5 80.00–90.00 $82.00 -15.50
80 80 7 140.00–180.00 $168.93 +71.43
80 80 9 80.00–115.00 $93.33 -4.17
80–89 82 5 110.00–160.00 $137.00 +39.50
100–145 116 10 170.00–230.00 $206.50 -3.50
100–135 119 4 155.00–170.00 $163.75 -46.25
150 150 1 200.00 $200.00 —

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Pigs

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
20 20 2 25.00 $25.00 -10.00
20 20 7 30.00–35.00 $34.29 -0.71
25 25 6 40.00 $40.00 +30.00
24–29 28 29 30.00–55.00 $49.01 +39.01
30 30 1 95.00 $95.00 +85.00
45 45 1 55.00 $55.00 +45.00
50 50 1 55.00 $55.00 ±0.00
59 59 4 15.00 $15.00 +1.00
63 63 5 7.00 $7.00 -7.00
63 63 3 52.50 $52.50 +38.50
70 70 5 60.00 $60.00 -40.00
71–75 73 20 6.00–10.00 $8.93 -48.17
75 75 2 80.00 $80.00 +22.90
85–86 86 11 40.00–70.00 $44.05 -5.78
91–98 94 11 80.00–95.00 $91.56 +66.56
100 100 8 155.00 $155.00 +45.00

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Sows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–395 360 2 48.00–72.50 $59.06 $213 -12.29
340–395 368 2 40.00–60.00 $50.75 $187 -20.60
420–495 455 3 20.00–45.00 $29.51 $134 +12.50
473 473 2 50.00 $50.00 $236 +32.99
520 520 1 42.50 $42.50 $221 -5.62
530–545 538 3 60.00–67.50 $63.84 $343 +31.50
610 610 1 67.50 $67.50 $412 —
640 640 1 57.50 $57.50 $368 —

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Wether Kids

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
50 50 4 135.00–180.00 $166.25 +16.25
60 60 3 150.00–220.00 $176.67 +26.67

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 5 150.00–160.00 $158.00 +58.00
80 80 2 130.00–137.50 $133.75 +33.75
100 100 2 120.00–125.00 $122.50 +7.50
100–130 111 7 175.00–235.00 $218.57 -73.10
150 150 2 290.00–295.00 $292.50 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

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.