heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$226.72/cwt-15.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,980/hd at 873 lb · 1,394 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$231.83/cwt-15.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,913/hd at 825 lb · 1,106 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers$238.48/cwt+1.52 vs last sale · ≈ $2,335/hd at 979 lb · 783 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
15,559
15,024
15,920
Feeder cattle
14,817
14,072
14,736
Slaughter cattle
742
952
1,184
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Flesh condition was heavier this week, as reported auctions were all East of the Missouri river where the yearlings are backgrounded in feedyards, feeder steers sold unevenly steady, heifers sold with steady to lower undertones. More customer appreciation BBQ sales were held this week and the market was extremely active. Higher cattle futures early in the week helped to set the tone for the feeder market. Cash fed cattle rose all the way up to 198.00, futures contracts did rally a little up still 10.00 or more positive basis exists as the cash continues to lead. Grazing conditions are much better than last year, lending to a good outlook for cow/calf and yearling producers. Cattle feeders are active bidders as the sale schedules are irregular now, as is normal for this time of the year, and they want to be able to buy these loads and strings of yearlings when they are offered. Slaughter cows mostly steady, bulls too few to compare.
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: Flesh condition was heavier this week, as reported auctions were all East of the Missouri river where the yearlings are backgrounded in feedyards, feeder steers sold unevenly steady, heifers sold with steady to lower undertones. More customer appreciation BBQ sales were held this week and the market was extremely active. Higher cattle futures early in the week helped to set the tone for the feeder market. Cash fed cattle rose all the way up to 198.00, futures contracts did rally a little up still 10.00 or more positive basis exists as the cash continues to lead. Grazing conditions are much better than last year, lending to a good outlook for cow/calf and yearling producers. Cattle feeders are active bidders as the sale schedules are irregular now, as is normal for this time of the year, and they want to be able to buy these loads and strings of yearlings when they are offered. Slaughter cows mostly steady, bulls too few to compare.