light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$134.50/cwt-7.27 vs last sale · ≈ $734/hd at 546 lb · 28 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers$151.50/cwt-4.16 vs last sale · ≈ $888/hd at 586 lb · 25 head
light 6-weight M&L 2 heifers$118.50/cwt-3.25 vs last sale · ≈ $750/hd at 633 lb · 20 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
863
2,936
0
Feeder cattle
240
2,915
0
Replacement cattle
623
21
0
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers across all weight ranges traded mostly 3.00 to 4.00 lower on a very thin test. Bred cattle had no like comparisons from last week, though a firm undertone was noted. Slaughter cattle were not reported due to reporter availability. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Today's run was a bred heifer and cow special, with a majority of the cattle being bred four to six months. There will be no sale next week, as Sterling Livestock will be closed for the Christmas holiday. The next scheduled sale is Wednesday December 30, 2020.
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 and heifers across all weight ranges traded mostly 3.00 to 4.00 lower on a very thin test. Bred cattle had no like comparisons from last week, though a firm undertone was noted. Slaughter cattle were not reported due to reporter availability. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Today's run was a bred heifer and cow special, with a majority of the cattle being bred four to six months. There will be no sale next week, as Sterling Livestock will be closed for the Christmas holiday. The next scheduled sale is Wednesday December 30, 2020.