light 7-weight M&L 1 steers$307.53/cwt+15.67 vs last sale · ≈ $2,229/hd at 725 lb · 2,622 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers$318.58/cwt+3.63 vs last sale · ≈ $2,148/hd at 674 lb · 2,613 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$337.34/cwt+8.27 vs last sale · ≈ $2,098/hd at 622 lb · 2,096 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
29,384
17,785
21,992
Feeder cattle
28,140
17,785
20,756
Slaughter cattle
1,244
—
1,236
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 550 lbs 15.00 to 20.00 higher, over 550 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 700 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, over 700 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Very good demand again for feeder cattle this week as auction markets were all back on to their regular sale schedules. A very large offering in at the central and eastern South Dakota auctions as those auction markets are just getting into their busiest marketing time of the year. The market was incredibly active as cattle feeders and yearling operators are frantically trying to get cattle bought. They are all well aware of the tighter feeder cattle supplies and with the cash fed cattle market shooting all the way up to 205.00 this week, they were intent on buying cattle as they are very optimistic that this bull run is not just a flash in the pan. Outgoing fed cattle are very profitable, in spite of the record high feeder cattle market at the time they were placed on feed. This fact has really got cattle feeders bulled up as the cash market is outrunning the futures contracts, leaving the basis 6.00 to 8.00 cash over futures. The winter has been very open, there is some snow cover in the west but the eastern side has bare ground but cold temps. This is making for good cattle feeding, helping to keep feed efficiency working in the cattle feeders' favor. Very large auctions receipts again next week as East River cattle producers are quick to get their cattle consigned while the market is red hot.
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 15.00 to 20.00 higher, over 550 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 700 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, over 700 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Very good demand again for feeder cattle this week as auction markets were all back on to their regular sale schedules. A very large offering in at the central and eastern South Dakota auctions as those auction markets are just getting into their busiest marketing time of the year. The market was incredibly active as cattle feeders and yearling operators are frantically trying to get cattle bought. They are all well aware of the tighter feeder cattle supplies and with the cash fed cattle market shooting all the way up to 205.00 this week, they were intent on buying cattle as they are very optimistic that this bull run is not just a flash in the pan. Outgoing fed cattle are very profitable, in spite of the record high feeder cattle market at the time they were placed on feed. This fact has really got cattle feeders bulled up as the cash market is outrunning the futures contracts, leaving the basis 6.00 to 8.00 cash over futures. The winter has been very open, there is some snow cover in the west but the eastern side has bare ground but cold temps. This is making for good cattle feeding, helping to keep feed efficiency working in the cattle feeders' favor. Very large auctions receipts again next week as East River cattle producers are quick to get their cattle consigned while the market is red hot.