heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers$202.98/cwt+5.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,585/hd at 781 lb · 2,938 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers$195.62/cwt+9.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,614/hd at 825 lb · 2,503 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers$187.94/cwt+5.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,644/hd at 875 lb · 2,128 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
28,339
21,283
27,924
Feeder cattle
27,352
19,861
26,657
Slaughter cattle
987
1,422
1,267
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 550 lbs steady to 5.00 lower, over 550 lbs 2.00 to 6.00 higher. Feeder heifers steady to 4.00 higher. Very good demand for steers and heifers this week as the weather moderated and made for better conditions to transport and receive incoming cattle. Muddy ground conditions are a major factor currently in how efficiently cattle are gaining weight. Pen conditions are very soft as the ground thaws making it very difficult to keep cattle clean and comfortable. Colder than average temps last week, and more forecast for this week as winter hangs on. Cattle feeders are dealing with much higher than anticipated costs of gain, yet they still are willing to come to town and aggressively chase the feeder cattle market. The market is the most active on light fleshed cattle, because of those costs of gain. Cattle that are green enough to run on grass, or be backgrounded in a yard, are highly sought after as the fall months of the CME Feeder Cattle contract are so attractive. Cash fed cattle continue to sell dollars higher than the April Live Cattle contract leaving cattle producers wondering when the futures will converge with the cash and at what price level. Slaughter cows steady to 3.00 higher, bulls 3.00 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: Feeder steers under 550 lbs steady to 5.00 lower, over 550 lbs 2.00 to 6.00 higher. Feeder heifers steady to 4.00 higher. Very good demand for steers and heifers this week as the weather moderated and made for better conditions to transport and receive incoming cattle. Muddy ground conditions are a major factor currently in how efficiently cattle are gaining weight. Pen conditions are very soft as the ground thaws making it very difficult to keep cattle clean and comfortable. Colder than average temps last week, and more forecast for this week as winter hangs on. Cattle feeders are dealing with much higher than anticipated costs of gain, yet they still are willing to come to town and aggressively chase the feeder cattle market. The market is the most active on light fleshed cattle, because of those costs of gain. Cattle that are green enough to run on grass, or be backgrounded in a yard, are highly sought after as the fall months of the CME Feeder Cattle contract are so attractive. Cash fed cattle continue to sell dollars higher than the April Live Cattle contract leaving cattle producers wondering when the futures will converge with the cash and at what price level. Slaughter cows steady to 3.00 higher, bulls 3.00 higher.