Cattle Market Pulse

Tennessee Daily Cattle Auction Summary

Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, May 3, 2023

2,067 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 steers $232.21/cwt -3.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,248/hd at 538 lb · 106 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $206.53/cwt -4.08 vs last sale · ≈ $1,078/hd at 522 lb · 99 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $210.00/cwt +0.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,017/hd at 484 lb · 89 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,067 1,329 1,670
Feeder cattle 1,625 1,067 1,448
Slaughter cattle 327 213 176
Replacement cattle 115 49 46

Market comments — USDA reporter

LaFayette - Compared to the last sale, Feeder Steers 4.00-10.00 lower; Feeder Bulls steady to 7.00 lower; Feeder Heifers steady to 4.00 lower. Offerings also included 787 head sold on video. The video sale report can be seen at the following link: https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ams_3467.pdf Sweetwater - Compared to last week, breaker and boning cows mostly steady overall, with lean cows 7.00 to 8.00 higher, and slaughter bulls 1.00 to 2.00 higher. No comparisons available for feeder classes due to limited comparable receipts, but a higher undertone was noted. Savannah - Compared to the same sale last week, Slaughter cows and bulls steady. Steers and bulls steady to 8.00 lower. Heifers under 450 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 higher, over 450 lbs mostly steady. 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
250–290 262 7 255.00–285.00 $267.43 $701 +5.88
300–330 319 13 240.00–260.00 $252.23 $805 -18.33
350–385 376 10 232.00–262.50 $254.68 $958 +2.88
402–449 426 27 215.00–255.00 $238.77 $1,017 -15.60
457 value added 457 5 242.00 $242.00 $1,106 —
453–490 460 31 211.00–250.00 $222.43 $1,023 -24.28
500–548 529 36 205.00–240.00 $221.33 $1,171 -14.18
511–545 value added 542 70 222.00–240.00 $237.81 $1,289 —
556–592 577 31 190.00–235.00 $217.01 $1,252 -5.81
571–588 value added 582 12 216.00 $216.00 $1,257 —
608–633 615 24 199.00–217.50 $213.17 $1,311 -9.19
634–648 value added 645 27 218.50–226.00 $224.64 $1,449 —
661–683 value added 668 16 215.00–218.00 $215.96 $1,443 -4.04
655–694 681 19 191.00–215.00 $201.10 $1,369 -6.24
712–725 value added 718 32 197.00–205.00 $201.13 $1,444 —
712–735 719 4 180.00 $180.00 $1,294 -11.00
751–753 value added 752 12 191.50–193.00 $192.13 $1,445 —
755–791 775 7 170.00–182.50 $174.57 $1,353 -16.23
850–870 value added 855 8 189.00–190.00 $189.75 $1,622 —
970 value added 970 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,698 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–275 268 4 240.00–260.00 $252.41 $676 +12.24
320–340 336 5 212.50–245.00 $224.05 $753 -29.64
360–390 378 5 182.50–235.00 $222.60 $841 -24.01
405–445 433 10 162.50–240.00 $199.41 $863 -32.05
460–495 478 2 220.00–230.00 $225.18 $1,076 +7.73
520–540 530 2 185.00–220.00 $202.83 $1,075 -18.50
570–595 587 3 210.00–215.00 $213.38 $1,253 +27.38
635 635 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,302 +16.93
655–690 673 2 190.00–192.50 $191.22 $1,287 -1.28
785 785 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,256 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–320 318 2 235.00–240.00 $237.52 $755 —
385–390 388 2 227.50–230.00 $228.76 $888 —
530 530 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,113 -12.00
575 575 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,236 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 250.00 $250.00 $500 +11.87
255–290 277 6 222.50–250.00 $238.14 $660 +6.12
305–329 321 8 217.50–240.00 $224.78 $722 -4.04
350–399 385 41 204.00–245.00 $219.89 $847 +1.80
410 fancy 410 1 222.00 $222.00 $910 —
413 413 2 180.00 $180.00 $743 -36.17
400–445 430 60 185.00–227.50 $208.80 $898 -7.37
435 435 1 200.00 $200.00 $870 -16.17
470 fancy 470 1 211.00 $211.00 $992 -12.00
470–490 480 47 179.00–215.00 $202.02 $970 -7.48
490–491 value added 490 41 211.00–220.00 $219.12 $1,074 —
500–545 521 49 183.00–216.00 $200.01 $1,042 -5.87
515–533 value added 523 50 207.00–217.00 $212.91 $1,114 ±0.00
550 fancy 550 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,144 —
565 565 1 171.00 $171.00 $966 -30.94
550–595 574 36 178.00–205.00 $193.03 $1,108 -8.91
566–596 value added 585 33 196.00–201.00 $199.55 $1,167 -36.45
600–635 613 22 175.00–185.00 $183.36 $1,124 -2.35
609–640 value added 628 18 190.00–197.00 $192.64 $1,210 —
635 635 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,111 -10.71
650–695 665 3 140.00–167.50 $153.52 $1,021 -24.44
675–698 682 16 168.00–190.00 $171.28 $1,168 -6.68
703–733 714 31 160.00–172.00 $169.22 $1,208 +4.72
720 720 1 125.00 $125.00 $900 -39.50
750 750 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,200 -4.00
790 value added 790 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,501 —
820 820 3 145.00 $145.00 $1,189 -12.50
858 value added 858 48 169.50 $169.50 $1,454 —
1231 value added 1231 6 139.00 $139.00 $1,711 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–245 223 2 225.00–245.00 $233.99 $522 +28.99
260–295 278 2 225.00–235.00 $229.68 $639 -0.32
305–335 326 5 200.00–230.00 $215.94 $704 +8.13
355–390 373 9 155.00–225.00 $198.36 $740 -11.98
400–445 420 6 150.00–210.00 $194.95 $819 -7.99
450 value added 450 7 200.00 $200.00 $900 —
450–490 475 10 150.00–205.00 $181.53 $862 -19.23
501–545 511 22 146.00–205.00 $171.40 $876 -9.94
563–590 573 5 172.50–185.00 $182.47 $1,046 +7.25
650–690 667 3 150.00–160.00 $156.70 $1,045 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 205.00 $205.00 $564 —
310–345 325 3 180.00–195.00 $188.46 $612 —
470 470 1 170.00 $170.00 $799 -20.00
500–530 515 2 155.00–175.00 $165.29 $851 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 165.00 $165.00 $437 —
385 385 1 182.00 $182.00 $701 -18.00
495 495 1 185.00 $185.00 $916 -0.11
725 725 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,051 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–320 313 3 225.00–232.50 $229.15 $717 -20.66
370–390 378 11 228.00–242.00 $236.19 $893 -18.81
400–448 423 14 218.00–247.50 $232.70 $984 -0.91
450–490 459 43 209.00–240.00 $223.12 $1,024 +3.12
500–535 524 38 197.50–228.00 $219.76 $1,152 -6.38
568–597 590 33 193.00–209.00 $202.04 $1,192 -15.43
600–643 634 13 185.00–207.50 $193.02 $1,224 -8.75
635 635 1 163.00 $163.00 $1,035 -38.77
660–690 678 4 176.00–185.00 $179.48 $1,217 -2.98
720–742 740 11 170.00–176.00 $175.47 $1,298 -3.97
750–795 773 2 165.00–170.00 $167.57 $1,295 -4.93
833–845 837 3 164.00–170.00 $166.02 $1,390 —
850 850 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,130 —
960 960 1 152.50 $152.50 $1,464 —
1000 1000 1 142.50 $142.50 $1,425 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 219.00 $219.00 $777 +3.75
435 435 1 215.00 $215.00 $935 -25.00
455–495 479 14 190.00–225.00 $208.54 $999 -1.46
500–535 518 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,036 +0.41
560–585 573 7 156.00–210.00 $183.12 $1,049 -9.38
608–635 620 4 155.00–200.00 $176.66 $1,095 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 202.50 $202.50 $526 —
385 385 1 210.00 $210.00 $808 —
430 430 1 210.00 $210.00 $903 —
485 485 1 160.00 $160.00 $776 -55.58
640 640 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,152 —
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1170 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,180 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
990–1310 1102 80-85% 3 81.50–89.00 $85.28 $940 —
855–1440 1106 80-85% 42 86.00–96.00 $91.06 $1,007 —
875–1435 1143 80-85% 19 95.00–108.50 $99.83 $1,141 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755–1105 905 85-90% 5 64.00–73.00 $70.70 $640 —
760–1185 990 85-90% 34 75.00–89.00 $83.41 $826 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1330 1150 75-80% 4 80.00–86.00 $84.39 $970 —
1290 1290 75-80% 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,290 —
1100–1660 1343 75-80% 17 87.00–95.50 $90.42 $1,214 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105 1105 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,348 —
1270–1835 1565 5 101.00–115.00 $108.07 $1,691 —
1385–2085 1648 12 115.00–126.00 $119.50 $1,969 —
1620–1970 1768 4 125.00–132.00 $128.11 $2,265 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,040.00 $1,040.00
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
905 905 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1000 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 910.00 $910.00
1000–1050 1025 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,030.00–1,040.00 $1,035.00
1095 1095 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
1050–1150 1100 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,030.00–1,250.00 $1,132.50
1100 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
900–990 940 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 825.00–975.00 $894.51
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850 850 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850–900 875 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,070.00–1,125.00 $1,097.50
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
750 750 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00

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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
920–1000 948 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 13 1,275.00–1,400.00 $1,306.34 —
1100–1115 1108 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,450.00–1,700.00 $1,583.76 —
1110–1300 1205 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,300.00–1,400.00 $1,346.06 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,040.00 $1,040.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
820–1050 943 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,050.00–1,200.00 $1,113.53 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
840 840 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —
850 850 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —

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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.