Cattle Market Pulse

Tennessee Daily Cattle Auction Summary

Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, December 5, 2023

2,329 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $199.24/cwt +7.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,159/hd at 582 lb · 172 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $199.85/cwt +16.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,537/hd at 769 lb · 130 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $215.82/cwt +1.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,444/hd at 669 lb · 118 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,329 1,895 2,011
Feeder cattle 2,030 1,592 1,746
Slaughter cattle 249 279 196
Replacement cattle 50 24 69

Market comments — USDA reporter

Knoxville - Compared to last week, feeder steers measuring 2.00 lower, with heifers unevenly steady overall, and bulls weighing up to 500 lbs. unevenly steady, with those weighing over 500 lbs. 9.00 lower. Slaughter cows gauging 3.00 to 7.00 lower with slaughter bulls mostly steady. Today's offerings included the following load lot: 1 load ML 1 preconditioned Heifers, 495 lbs., $229.50, medium flesh, mostly black/black-white-face. Fayetteville - Compared to this market last week, feeder steers steady to 5.00 lower, heifers 3.00 to 10.00 higher, and feeder bulls 3.00 to 10.00 lower; however, all value added feeders are still demanding a premium. Slaughter cows 3.00 to 7.00 lower with slaughter bulls steady. Columbia - Cattle were of UPI alliance sale, cattle were delivered at Columbia and Cookeville. Cattle were weaned and vaccinated. Weaned for 60 days. 352 steers and 295 heifers.

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
235 235 1 200.00 $200.00 $470 -43.01
300–335 317 3 217.50–225.00 $222.63 $706 -43.46
364 364 8 269.00 $269.00 $979 +15.00
405 value added 405 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,073 +9.47
400–445 426 14 227.50–240.00 $231.21 $985 -8.29
473–493 value added 479 13 228.00–240.00 $236.20 $1,131 -11.87
460–492 480 46 217.50–235.00 $223.10 $1,071 -13.58
500–535 value added 510 10 230.00–242.00 $238.24 $1,215 -4.86
500–545 521 35 210.00–230.00 $223.43 $1,164 -8.87
517–530 521 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,094 -22.30
525 fancy 525 1 237.50 $237.50 $1,247 —
557–590 567 11 210.00–221.00 $213.90 $1,213 -12.44
564–595 value added 580 64 215.00–235.00 $233.90 $1,357 -1.35
600–640 value added 626 31 215.00–230.00 $221.69 $1,388 -4.02
610–647 627 10 197.50–212.00 $205.74 $1,290 -13.96
662–673 value added 668 109 212.00–219.00 $216.83 $1,448 -3.60
665–697 685 9 190.00–207.00 $203.57 $1,394 -3.56
715–727 value added 722 9 205.00–215.00 $209.40 $1,512 +9.40
705–735 726 4 192.50–200.00 $194.95 $1,415 -2.30
765 765 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,377 -3.91
769 value added 769 129 200.00 $200.00 $1,538 +12.99
815 815 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,426 -5.47
842 value added 842 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,600 —
865–875 value added 875 49 170.00–186.00 $185.68 $1,625 +15.68
875–880 878 2 180.00–185.00 $182.51 $1,602 —
985 value added 985 20 171.00 $171.00 $1,684 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,000 —
509 509 7 195.00 $195.00 $993 —
581 581 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,191 —
615–625 616 7 182.50–185.00 $184.64 $1,137 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–345 327 3 197.50–212.50 $204.01 $667 -28.67
495 495 1 180.00 $180.00 $891 -31.53
515 515 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,056 +2.38
645 645 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,161 -16.59
730 value added 730 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,241 —
875 875 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,312 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 1 210.00 $210.00 $746 —
505 505 3 190.00 $190.00 $960 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–295 275 7 190.00–225.00 $209.53 $576 -10.47
290 fancy 290 1 237.50 $237.50 $689 —
305–342 321 20 190.00–230.00 $215.20 $691 +2.08
340 value added 340 3 205.00 $205.00 $697 -22.59
361–395 374 20 195.00–223.00 $207.38 $776 -13.23
396 value added 396 6 230.00 $230.00 $911 -1.00
408–410 value added 409 6 220.00–230.00 $224.99 $920 +4.81
400–447 419 59 195.00–217.00 $205.65 $862 -0.94
450–495 477 56 185.00–204.00 $194.38 $927 -4.20
462–491 value added 487 21 208.00–212.50 $208.78 $1,017 -1.35
503–545 value added 514 61 185.00–225.00 $214.47 $1,102 +6.86
530 530 2 180.00 $180.00 $954 -14.66
500–549 538 37 170.00–199.00 $191.28 $1,029 -3.38
550–597 577 42 177.50–195.00 $189.39 $1,093 +4.39
550–592 value added 583 130 185.00–210.00 $202.42 $1,180 +2.86
604–635 value added 616 10 183.00–187.50 $185.12 $1,140 -10.48
605–645 631 20 170.00–185.00 $171.51 $1,082 -13.49
674–675 674 6 186.00–187.00 $186.17 $1,255 +21.17
650–683 value added 681 106 175.00–187.00 $185.72 $1,265 +3.13
695 695 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,129 -2.50
710–735 723 8 160.00–172.50 $164.80 $1,192 +1.71
725 value added 725 11 180.00 $180.00 $1,305 +12.00
775–790 value added 775 67 168.00–183.00 $182.77 $1,416 +14.62
780 780 3 152.50–160.00 $155.00 $1,209 -6.00
820–845 833 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,083 -20.00
860 value added 860 25 173.00 $173.00 $1,488 —
965 965 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,254 +9.00
1065 1065 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,278 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 value added 495 94 229.50 $229.50 $1,136 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 1 180.00 $180.00 $756 -14.76
590 590 1 160.00 $160.00 $944 -11.28
600–620 608 3 150.00–167.50 $159.15 $968 -11.33
730 730 3 130.00 $130.00 $949 ±0.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–495 473 2 170.00–185.00 $177.86 $841 —
575 575 1 142.50 $142.50 $819 -17.50
600 600 1 160.00 $160.00 $960 —
650 650 1 147.50 $147.50 $959 -12.50

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 250.00 $250.00 $562 —
260–285 270 3 240.00–245.00 $242.48 $655 —
315 fancy 315 1 290.00 $290.00 $914 —
305–340 318 8 245.00–275.00 $262.64 $835 —
350–395 376 16 225.00–275.00 $241.66 $909 -11.03
400 fancy 400 2 257.50–260.00 $258.75 $1,035 +8.75
405–445 423 32 220.00–250.00 $235.18 $995 +2.12
450–491 476 25 205.00–225.00 $212.10 $1,010 -20.11
501–530 fancy 508 4 212.50–217.50 $213.80 $1,086 —
505–545 528 24 185.00–207.50 $194.50 $1,027 -13.01
558–594 575 13 180.00–207.50 $193.64 $1,113 -8.22
600–640 610 9 180.00–192.50 $183.98 $1,122 -4.32
665 665 5 180.00–193.00 $190.40 $1,266 +6.74
778 778 5 158.00 $158.00 $1,229 +1.88
842 842 3 132.50 $132.50 $1,116 —
910–940 925 2 97.00–106.00 $101.43 $938 -28.57
970–995 983 2 91.00–104.00 $97.42 $958 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,054 —
637 637 5 172.50 $172.50 $1,099 —
693 693 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,109 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 220.00 $220.00 $693 —
375 375 1 182.50 $182.50 $684 -28.57
425 425 1 195.00 $195.00 $829 -2.51
505–535 520 2 160.00–180.00 $169.71 $882 -9.87
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 212.50 $212.50 $861 —
580 580 1 167.50 $167.50 $972 —
620 620 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,023 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1555 1285 80-85% 41 77.00–90.00 $83.86 $1,078 +5.86
1200–1500 1350 80-85% 2 73.00–79.00 $76.33 $1,030 —
1090–1670 1375 80-85% 17 90.00–102.00 $93.33 $1,283 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1260 1240 75-80% 2 97.00–101.00 $99.03 $1,228 —
1185–1815 1493 75-80% 41 82.50–96.50 $89.23 $1,332 +5.40
1150–1850 1500 75-80% 2 81.00–82.00 $81.62 $1,224 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
825–1235 1072 85-90% 5 68.00–72.00 $70.30 $754 —
820–1420 1122 85-90% 28 71.00–83.00 $75.92 $852 -0.62
1060–1555 1289 85-90% 6 80.00–88.50 $83.15 $1,072 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1610 1417 3 91.00–100.00 $97.56 $1,382 —
1615–2135 1902 11 107.00–123.00 $113.69 $2,162 -1.29
1965 1965 1 127.00 $127.00 $2,496 —
2025 2025 1 106.00 $106.00 $2,146 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950–990 973 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 950.00–1,325.00 $1,118.70
980 980 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 980.00 $980.00
1075 1075 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
950–1275 1081 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,025.00–1,375.00 $1,158.41
980–1415 1223 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,050.00–1,300.00 $1,156.90
1260 1260 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,060.00 $1,060.00
1360 1360 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015 1015 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1060–1170 1110 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,000.00–1,150.00 $1,069.22

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Bred Heifers

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
895 895 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00

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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
1270 1270 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,300.00–2,150.00 $1,725.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —

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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.