Cattle Market Pulse

Tennessee Daily Cattle Auction Summary

Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, May 21, 2024

1,572 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 $271.70/cwt +5.09 vs last sale · ≈ $1,413/hd at 520 lb · 75 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $262.26/cwt +8.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,492/hd at 569 lb · 70 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $300.44/cwt +0.27 vs last sale · ≈ $1,272/hd at 424 lb · 61 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,572 1,163 2,090
Feeder cattle 1,254 1,019 1,694
Slaughter cattle 256 128 302
Replacement cattle 62 16 94

Market comments — USDA reporter

Knoxville - Compared to last week, feeder heifers and feeder steers weighing up to 600 lbs. 7.00 higher overall, with feeder steers weighing over 600 lbs. sharply higher, and feeder bulls 5.00 to 6.00 lower overall. Regarding slaughter classes- breaker and lean cows 4.00 to 7.00 higher overall, with boning cows 1.00 higher, and bulls 7.00 higher. Pulaski - Compared to two weeks ago, Slaughter Cows 5.00 higher, Slaughter Bulls and Feeders insufficient receipts to establish a trend. Fayetteville - Compared to this same sale last week, feeder steers 10.00 to 20.00 lower, heifers 4.00 to 12.00 higher, bulls under 550lbs 9.00 to 20.00 lower and over 550lbs 9.00 to 20.00 higher. Slaughter cows steady to 3.00 lower with lean cows 2.00 higher.

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
200–230 215 2 350.00–360.00 $354.65 $762 -0.86
285 value added 285 1 380.00 $380.00 $1,083 —
290 290 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,030 -44.45
320 value added 320 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,232 —
315–345 330 5 340.00–375.00 $356.95 $1,178 +20.44
350–391 380 15 330.00–350.00 $340.05 $1,292 -6.92
400–445 422 19 310.00–335.00 $328.04 $1,384 +6.78
450–480 463 15 297.50–330.00 $317.75 $1,471 +6.30
500–543 518 40 275.00–310.00 $300.58 $1,557 -3.19
535 value added 535 3 297.50–317.50 $310.83 $1,663 —
555–598 value added 578 23 289.00–292.50 $289.44 $1,673 -18.58
550–595 582 27 272.50–305.00 $283.83 $1,652 -7.97
603–645 624 22 275.50–300.00 $283.30 $1,768 +6.60
605–645 value added 634 7 275.00–285.00 $280.73 $1,780 -9.27
660–695 672 11 266.00–288.00 $277.45 $1,864 +0.21
710–746 730 21 252.50–273.00 $260.72 $1,903 —
812–831 value added 820 14 230.00–230.50 $230.28 $1,888 —
880 value added 880 4 226.00 $226.00 $1,989 +3.50
920–945 value added 933 2 224.00–228.00 $226.03 $2,109 —
1015 1015 1 215.00 $215.00 $2,182 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290–295 293 2 250.00–280.00 $264.87 $776 —
300–330 315 2 315.00–337.50 $326.79 $1,029 -8.21
365–385 375 2 310.00–315.00 $312.43 $1,172 —
400–420 408 3 282.50–295.00 $287.44 $1,173 -1.02
475–497 489 7 260.00–305.00 $285.46 $1,396 -0.82
510–540 528 3 240.00–300.00 $262.68 $1,387 -14.11
570–595 589 6 230.00–265.00 $253.68 $1,494 -21.17
635–645 640 2 235.00–255.00 $244.92 $1,567 -8.54
705 705 3 234.00 $234.00 $1,650 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,258 —
650 650 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,592 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–297 280 6 320.00–345.00 $328.93 $921 -43.90
300–345 312 11 292.50–340.00 $321.26 $1,002 +6.85
355–397 375 16 285.00–312.50 $299.69 $1,124 -39.58
360–382 value added 379 11 333.00–345.00 $335.07 $1,270 —
402–410 value added 407 13 327.50–332.50 $328.73 $1,338 +13.77
400–445 428 48 272.50–312.50 $292.78 $1,253 -2.25
450 value added 450 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,350 —
460–495 480 55 255.00–290.00 $273.29 $1,312 +0.37
500–532 value added 516 16 266.00–290.00 $284.57 $1,468 —
500–545 521 59 252.50–285.00 $268.21 $1,397 +1.60
552–595 value added 567 26 235.00–284.50 $269.32 $1,527 +5.32
550–597 570 44 240.00–272.50 $258.09 $1,471 +7.00
607–608 value added 608 19 239.00–244.00 $241.89 $1,471 -10.11
605–649 630 16 231.50–250.00 $236.87 $1,492 -3.42
665–670 value added 667 3 247.50 $247.50 $1,651 —
664–693 680 11 215.00–230.00 $221.88 $1,509 -12.39
710–725 720 10 194.00–237.00 $217.01 $1,562 -11.74
765 765 2 192.50 $192.50 $1,473 —
790 790 2 172.50 $172.50 $1,363 —
805–832 828 6 175.00–206.00 $180.03 $1,491 -11.97
907 907 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,406 —
998 value added 998 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,597 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–280 265 2 305.00–330.00 $316.79 $839 +36.79
300 300 1 286.00 $286.00 $858 +6.00
370–383 378 4 262.00–275.00 $265.96 $1,005 -34.04
410–440 425 2 270.00–272.50 $271.21 $1,153 +1.21
455–488 474 8 250.00–265.00 $256.76 $1,217 -8.24
500–535 517 11 245.00–265.00 $251.81 $1,302 +4.24
588 588 2 238.00 $238.00 $1,399 +8.98
615–640 628 2 225.00–230.00 $227.55 $1,429 +0.93
655–675 665 2 190.00–200.00 $195.08 $1,297 —
725 725 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,269 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,112 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,066 —
302–345 331 13 325.00–360.00 $348.27 $1,153 —
350 fancy 350 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,312 —
360–399 378 12 320.00–355.00 $333.57 $1,261 -2.88
400–448 427 32 297.50–320.00 $310.57 $1,326 -13.52
450–495 476 36 289.00–315.00 $303.72 $1,446 -5.67
500–548 529 32 270.00–301.00 $285.40 $1,510 -12.60
550–596 578 27 264.00–285.00 $270.40 $1,563 -4.19
600–641 618 14 248.00–267.50 $257.25 $1,590 -4.42
650–680 662 16 242.50–276.00 $255.42 $1,691 -3.66
700–740 718 4 225.00–244.00 $234.87 $1,686 -8.21
752–755 753 6 200.00–218.00 $214.99 $1,619 -23.08
825–830 828 2 200.00–204.00 $202.01 $1,673 -10.52
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,054 —
420–435 428 5 270.00–295.00 $285.01 $1,220 -14.96
450–495 477 7 265.00–287.50 $279.47 $1,333 -8.64
515–545 535 9 247.50–265.00 $256.67 $1,373 -8.50
555–590 577 5 225.00–255.00 $246.16 $1,420 -23.84
605–645 625 2 215.00–230.00 $222.26 $1,389 -25.24
680 680 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,564 -7.50
770 770 3 170.00–245.00 $195.00 $1,502 -5.00
860 860 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,333 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,400 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1210 1061 80-85% 5 110.00–125.00 $116.24 $1,233 —
890–1550 1199 80-85% 64 116.00–138.00 $127.43 $1,528 —
1065–1465 1283 80-85% 16 136.00–151.50 $142.66 $1,830 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–1135 920 85-90% 6 94.00–111.00 $102.35 $942 —
800–1225 1036 85-90% 6 125.00–135.00 $128.52 $1,331 +32.63
845–1300 1068 85-90% 29 109.00–125.00 $116.05 $1,239 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1630 1409 75-80% 28 128.00–143.00 $136.65 $1,925 +13.65
1030–2035 1418 75-80% 4 116.00–126.00 $122.10 $1,731 -0.90
1265–1585 1421 75-80% 7 143.00–150.00 $145.84 $2,072 +22.84

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1225 1150 3 137.00–148.00 $141.80 $1,631 —
1365–1740 1571 4 131.00–148.00 $142.85 $2,244 +22.34
1250–1985 1678 15 138.00–165.00 $155.29 $2,606 -13.69
1615–2225 1974 8 164.00–173.00 $168.08 $3,318 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950 950 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,170.00 $1,170.00
845–1235 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,450.00–1,800.00 $1,607.27
1065 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1135 1135 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1190 1190 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
945–1390 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,475.00–1,800.00 $1,664.78
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
985–1580 1353 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,450.00–2,050.00 $1,773.55
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765–815 790 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,350.00–1,375.00 $1,362.90
1075 1075 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,410.00 $1,410.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765 765 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00
965 965 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920 920 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,070.00 $2,070.00

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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
1135 1135 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,675.00–2,050.00 $1,862.50 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
890 890 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,885.00 $1,885.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
— — Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408 408 5 222.50 $222.50 $908 —
482 482 5 222.00 $222.00 $1,070 —

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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.