Cattle Market Pulse

Tennessee Daily Cattle Auction Summary

Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, May 2, 2023

1,329 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Tennessee Daily Cattle Auction Summary report →

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $210.61/cwt +5.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,118/hd at 531 lb · 144 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $209.78/cwt -5.50 vs last sale · ≈ $986/hd at 470 lb · 48 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $216.17/cwt -8.78 vs last sale · ≈ $925/hd at 428 lb · 34 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,329 2,510 1,670
Feeder cattle 1,067 2,112 1,448
Slaughter cattle 213 313 176
Replacement cattle 49 85 46

Market comments — USDA reporter

Knoxville - Compared to last week, feeder steers weighing up to 550 lbs. sharply higher, with those weighing over 550 lbs. mostly steady. Feeder heifers weighing up to 350 lbs. sharply higher, with those weighing over 350 lbs. 3.00 higher, and feeder bulls sharply higher overall. Regarding slaughter classes- breaker and boning cows 1.00 to 2.00 lower overall, with lean cows 5.00 to 8.00 higher, and bulls 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Pulaski - Compared to the same sale two weeks ago, Slaughter cows 1.00 to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls not well established last sale. Steers mostly steady. Heifers mostly steady with instances 2.00 to 7.00 lower. Bulls steady to 5.00 lower. Quality fair to good. Demand moderate.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–290 280 3 255.00–265.00 $261.55 $732 -9.98
300–345 326 6 255.00–280.00 $270.56 $882 +2.80
350 fancy 350 1 262.50 $262.50 $919 —
350–395 374 10 235.00–267.50 $251.80 $942 -7.56
400–437 418 20 245.00–262.50 $254.37 $1,063 +10.75
455–495 477 23 231.00–254.00 $246.71 $1,177 +11.19
510–547 532 18 223.00–250.00 $235.51 $1,253 +5.49
555–595 577 11 210.00–240.00 $222.82 $1,286 -2.86
616–635 622 6 221.00–227.50 $222.36 $1,383 +8.44
665 value added 665 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,463 —
666–685 671 5 195.00–218.00 $207.34 $1,391 -6.45
740 740 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,413 -8.84
765 765 5 186.00–192.00 $190.80 $1,460 -12.68
805 805 2 191.00 $191.00 $1,538 +10.00
860 860 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,462 +1.49
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 250.00 $250.00 $562 +9.11
285–295 290 2 230.00–250.00 $240.17 $696 +2.86
300–330 315 4 247.50–265.00 $253.69 $799 +24.24
355–385 368 3 245.00–250.00 $246.61 $908 +19.50
410–430 420 2 222.50–240.00 $231.46 $972 +7.89
465–485 475 2 215.00–220.00 $217.45 $1,033 -5.11
510–545 530 4 215.00–227.50 $221.33 $1,173 +18.13
591 591 4 186.00 $186.00 $1,099 -24.25
607–615 611 5 172.50–200.00 $188.07 $1,149 -4.21
670 670 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,290 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–430 415 2 232.50–235.00 $233.80 $970 +8.80
465 465 1 210.00 $210.00 $976 -10.00
520 520 1 222.00 $222.00 $1,154 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
233–235 234 4 237.50–240.00 $238.13 $557 -6.87
255–295 275 6 225.00–237.50 $232.02 $638 -3.80
305–345 320 6 222.50–235.00 $228.82 $732 -10.68
357 value added 357 4 234.00 $234.00 $835 —
350–395 377 6 210.00–235.00 $218.09 $822 -9.81
402–445 428 34 200.00–237.50 $216.17 $925 -5.25
460 fancy 460 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,026 —
450–497 470 47 197.50–222.50 $209.50 $985 -4.93
500–545 525 43 191.00–215.00 $205.88 $1,081 +10.55
517–534 value added 533 100 212.50–218.00 $212.91 $1,135 -2.59
540 540 1 184.00 $184.00 $994 -11.33
550–595 567 30 190.00–214.00 $201.94 $1,145 +10.73
592 value added 592 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,397 +36.00
600–645 623 23 175.00–191.00 $185.71 $1,157 -3.39
655 655 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,130 -8.93
665 value added 665 2 189.00 $189.00 $1,257 —
650–690 668 10 170.00–187.00 $177.96 $1,189 -3.47
700–715 707 5 162.50–165.00 $164.50 $1,163 -5.47
750 750 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,230 -4.15
755–780 769 5 159.00–172.50 $162.25 $1,248 -5.90
820 820 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,292 +3.50
863 863 3 158.00 $158.00 $1,364 -2.28
945 945 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,323 +7.51
970 970 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,387 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215 215 1 205.00 $205.00 $441 -30.00
280 280 1 230.00 $230.00 $644 +20.46
305–340 321 6 200.00–220.00 $207.81 $667 +10.91
350–395 381 8 180.00–225.00 $210.34 $801 -3.65
405–445 422 3 187.50–217.50 $202.94 $856 +0.18
458–490 469 6 191.00–210.00 $200.76 $942 +6.02
520–545 533 2 177.50–185.00 $181.34 $967 -5.83
550–585 562 3 170.00–178.00 $175.22 $985 -0.90
600–607 605 3 155.00–171.00 $165.71 $1,003 -3.50
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 217.50 $217.50 $740 —
395 395 1 200.00 $200.00 $790 —
400–435 418 2 202.50–210.00 $206.41 $863 —
460 460 1 180.00 $180.00 $828 -22.03
485–498 494 4 167.50–192.50 $185.11 $914 -16.92
530 530 1 165.00 $165.00 $874 +15.00
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 190.00 $190.00 $884 +30.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 fancy 255 1 270.00 $270.00 $688 —
250–280 264 7 240.00–265.00 $252.88 $668 —
321 value added 321 6 266.00 $266.00 $854 —
300–345 328 9 240.00–262.50 $249.81 $819 —
360 fancy 360 1 272.50 $272.50 $981 —
360–397 385 5 245.00–267.50 $255.00 $982 -11.27
400–445 428 10 215.00–250.00 $233.61 $1,000 -6.04
451–480 fancy 459 5 245.00–247.50 $245.52 $1,127 —
470 470 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,034 -6.28
450–495 480 16 220.00–240.00 $228.82 $1,098 +2.54
505–525 fancy 515 2 242.50–245.00 $243.73 $1,255 —
503–548 526 12 212.50–237.50 $226.14 $1,189 +7.34
560–565 fancy 563 5 232.50–234.00 $233.00 $1,312 —
555–595 577 16 200.00–227.50 $217.47 $1,255 +8.53
600–643 620 11 190.00–217.00 $201.77 $1,251 +2.65
665–695 685 5 175.00–185.00 $182.46 $1,250 -9.49
705–740 719 4 173.00–185.00 $179.44 $1,290 -15.90
765 765 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,320 -3.85
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 230.00 $230.00 $610 —
382–395 386 3 208.00–219.00 $215.25 $831 -18.44
425 425 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,020 +21.25
485 485 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,018 -9.73
505–535 518 6 195.00–202.50 $199.59 $1,034 -3.22
570 570 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,097 +3.99
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–485 470 3 202.50–225.00 $215.58 $1,013 +16.95
510–535 527 3 202.50–207.50 $204.96 $1,080 —
555 555 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,166 —
740 740 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,276 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1170 1170 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 192.50 $192.50 $914 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1505 1181 80-85% 54 86.00–98.00 $91.32 $1,078 -0.79
1200–1365 1275 80-85% 6 95.00–104.50 $99.78 $1,272 +0.54
1255–1420 1326 80-85% 4 83.00–87.00 $85.74 $1,137 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1300 1235 75-80% 2 81.00–82.00 $81.53 $1,007 —
1215–1880 1446 75-80% 29 88.00–99.00 $92.36 $1,336 +0.29
1380–1720 1550 75-80% 2 101.00–105.00 $102.78 $1,593 +16.78
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1220 1002 85-90% 5 65.00–75.00 $70.14 $703 -11.66
785–1255 1010 85-90% 19 74.00–90.50 $83.51 $843 +1.71

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330 1330 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,530 —
995–1670 1458 9 96.00–114.00 $106.48 $1,552 —
1270–1990 1678 10 111.00–131.00 $121.52 $2,039 —
1750–2000 1857 5 127.00–140.00 $130.05 $2,415 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 910.00 $910.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
940 940 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1115 1115 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1015–1370 1193 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 830.00–1,100.00 $985.09
1440 1440 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800 800 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,070.00 $1,070.00
930 930 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 980.00 $980.00
980 980 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
1035 1035 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790 790 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
865 865 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
865 865 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,100.00 $1,100.00
880–930 905 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,175.00–1,250.00 $1,213.54
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745 745 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 725.00 $725.00
850 850 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 870.00 $870.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,275.00–1,580.00 $1,427.50 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 4 160.00 $160.00 $568 —

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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.