Cattle Market Pulse

Tennessee Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 4, 2021

5,702 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $116.22/cwt +2.13 vs last sale · ≈ $729/hd at 627 lb · 271 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $132.86/cwt +4.91 vs last sale · ≈ $831/hd at 625 lb · 250 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $118.81/cwt +4.74 vs last sale · ≈ $679/hd at 571 lb · 226 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,702 7,069 9,330
Feeder cattle 4,783 5,767 7,842
Slaughter cattle 752 763 1,117
Replacement cattle 167 539 371

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparison is available this week due to recent Christmas and New Year’s holiday closings, however, trade was mostly moderate and demand for feeder and slaughter cattle was moderate to good. Comparisons will resume on next week’s summary, which will be published on Tuesday, January, 19, 2021 in light of the Federal holiday on Monday, January 18, 2021.

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
269–295 277 14 160.00–185.00 $179.88 $498 +8.10
300–345 332 28 150.00–185.00 $163.52 $543 +7.24
345 fancy 345 1 180.00 $180.00 $621 —
355 thin fleshed 355 1 170.00 $170.00 $604 —
355–397 377 48 141.00–184.00 $159.68 $602 +9.67
400–445 421 41 145.00–171.00 $154.86 $652 +8.48
443 thin fleshed 443 5 173.00 $173.00 $766 —
450–498 469 61 134.00–158.00 $148.64 $697 +4.71
458–496 value added 480 36 148.00–175.00 $155.40 $746 +2.82
505 fancy 505 1 149.00 $149.00 $752 +4.00
515–527 value added 522 57 144.50–154.00 $146.31 $764 +6.96
500–545 525 125 130.00–152.00 $139.05 $730 +2.90
530 530 1 135.00 $135.00 $716 -1.15
534 thin fleshed 534 15 145.00 $145.00 $774 —
558–578 value added 574 37 137.00–148.00 $140.33 $805 +1.34
550–599 580 83 120.00–144.00 $134.60 $781 +3.33
587 587 3 122.00 $122.00 $716 -9.27
601–647 value added 623 152 128.50–142.00 $136.02 $847 +4.48
600–647 629 98 115.00–135.00 $127.95 $805 +1.08
652–698 value added 667 99 125.00–134.50 $133.33 $889 -0.17
650–695 668 63 115.00–131.00 $124.46 $831 -0.03
705–723 value added 709 81 128.00–130.00 $129.31 $917 +0.14
700–745 717 41 106.00–123.00 $116.31 $834 -2.44
755–793 773 42 107.50–124.00 $117.61 $909 +0.42
752–798 value added 782 129 118.00–128.50 $126.55 $990 +2.45
790 790 2 101.00 $101.00 $798 -16.19
801–820 value added 805 20 118.00–124.50 $122.98 $990 —
810–845 830 14 105.00–121.50 $116.19 $964 +11.22
855–876 865 15 101.00–115.00 $109.34 $946 -1.64
850–886 value added 878 76 102.50–126.50 $122.06 $1,072 +12.69
900 900 1 101.00 $101.00 $909 -2.22
1034 value added 1034 7 112.00 $112.00 $1,158 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–245 223 2 152.50–155.00 $153.88 $343 -16.12
250–285 274 7 140.00–162.50 $154.28 $423 +9.20
310–340 328 5 145.00–162.50 $152.63 $501 +14.22
360–398 384 25 129.00–173.00 $149.76 $575 +5.35
400–445 415 15 127.50–152.50 $140.43 $583 +7.98
450–495 466 27 127.00–145.00 $136.48 $636 -0.55
500–545 520 18 108.00–137.00 $126.90 $660 +5.28
550–590 571 9 115.00–131.00 $122.16 $698 +0.34
600–645 625 14 110.00–125.00 $118.08 $738 +5.38
655–690 668 9 110.00–124.00 $118.87 $794 +7.87
720–745 733 2 97.50–104.00 $100.81 $739 -6.41
770 770 1 100.00 $100.00 $770 -10.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 152.50 $152.50 $374 —
325–340 331 4 145.00–152.50 $148.79 $492 +1.29
350–395 378 8 129.00–145.00 $138.01 $522 -1.99
400–440 419 4 122.50–140.00 $133.24 $558 -3.09
450–475 464 4 125.00–130.00 $128.49 $596 -1.51
510–520 517 3 111.00–122.00 $118.31 $612 +3.31
560–595 577 3 117.00–125.00 $121.53 $701 —
595 595 1 123.00 $123.00 $732 —
625–630 628 2 107.00–121.00 $113.97 $716 +18.97
675 675 1 113.00 $113.00 $763 —
730 730 1 105.00 $105.00 $766 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 147.50 $147.50 $339 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220–230 223 3 122.50–134.00 $130.05 $290 -14.69
255–290 273 10 126.00–152.50 $133.65 $365 +1.39
300–345 327 26 120.00–146.00 $132.84 $434 +2.24
350–397 377 60 114.00–149.00 $132.24 $499 +3.92
417 thin fleshed 417 9 137.00 $137.00 $571 —
418 fancy 418 2 132.00 $132.00 $552 +1.40
400–449 432 154 110.00–136.00 $126.68 $547 +2.36
450–498 480 178 111.00–134.00 $125.13 $601 +2.96
471–486 value added 481 32 126.00–135.00 $129.76 $624 +0.76
490 490 4 117.50–120.00 $119.38 $585 -2.79
515 thin fleshed 515 3 103.00 $103.00 $530 —
500–545 519 158 106.00–128.00 $118.79 $617 +3.15
503–528 value added 519 35 126.50–127.00 $126.67 $657 +4.43
535–545 540 2 104.00–106.00 $104.99 $567 -10.65
552–598 value added 570 75 121.50–128.00 $124.52 $710 +7.88
550–595 572 150 104.00–127.00 $116.04 $664 +14.21
580 580 1 106.00 $106.00 $615 -8.23
605–645 value added 624 138 112.00–123.00 $120.45 $752 -1.40
600–648 630 133 100.00–119.00 $111.83 $705 +3.09
665–675 670 2 100.00–105.00 $102.48 $687 -15.38
652–690 value added 671 57 107.50–118.50 $114.89 $771 -4.52
650–698 672 50 100.00–118.00 $109.55 $736 -8.31
703–708 value added 708 81 115.50–119.00 $118.74 $841 +1.74
700–746 730 31 89.00–113.00 $105.84 $773 +13.34
750–785 759 29 93.00–112.00 $102.55 $778 -1.46
759–764 value added 762 22 101.00–113.00 $106.10 $808 -8.23
818–841 value added 821 39 114.50–119.00 $118.41 $972 +4.41
800–837 830 7 96.00–98.00 $97.00 $805 +1.83
850–870 858 7 84.00–97.50 $92.21 $791 +2.63
897 value added 897 4 108.00 $108.00 $969 -3.50
945 945 1 90.00 $90.00 $850 -13.08
965 965 1 94.00 $94.00 $907 +6.49
1005 1005 1 87.50 $87.50 $879 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 132.50 $132.50 $265 —
250–275 263 3 124.00–140.00 $132.85 $349 +6.28
315–340 323 16 110.00–135.00 $125.62 $406 +11.80
350–390 367 17 112.50–130.00 $122.60 $450 +10.38
410–445 430 23 108.00–128.00 $116.26 $500 +1.18
450–490 468 24 110.00–125.00 $118.21 $553 +6.01
500–530 511 12 102.50–116.00 $109.91 $562 -1.06
550–590 563 14 101.00–112.50 $107.28 $604 +1.59
605–640 618 6 91.00–108.00 $98.73 $610 -1.68
701–740 715 7 90.00–101.00 $97.57 $698 +6.52
780–795 788 2 95.00–99.00 $97.02 $765 +11.78
825 825 1 101.00 $101.00 $833 +5.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 117.50 $117.50 $247 —
295 295 2 120.00–125.00 $122.50 $361 —
300–345 323 3 116.00–121.00 $118.14 $382 —
343 343 2 111.00 $111.00 $381 —
350–395 370 4 115.00–122.50 $119.91 $444 +2.91
375 375 1 105.00 $105.00 $394 -12.00
450–495 469 6 113.00–119.00 $116.84 $548 +10.67
515 515 1 99.00 $99.00 $510 +4.06
565 565 1 95.00 $95.00 $537 -1.65
555–585 568 3 100.00–110.00 $106.36 $604 +9.71
700–715 708 2 75.00–92.50 $83.84 $594 -1.16
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 122.00 $122.00 $354 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290–295 292 3 140.00–160.00 $153.26 $448 +1.26
305 fancy 305 1 165.00 $165.00 $503 -10.00
340–345 343 2 145.00–168.00 $156.58 $537 +4.84
350–380 376 22 140.00–156.00 $148.80 $559 +5.03
390 390 2 135.00–137.50 $136.25 $531 -7.52
400–447 428 51 134.00–172.00 $145.36 $622 +0.68
450–495 468 84 130.00–156.00 $140.63 $658 +2.35
470 fancy 470 1 151.00 $151.00 $710 —
500–546 522 70 118.00–148.00 $135.46 $707 +6.43
525 fancy 525 1 138.00 $138.00 $724 +6.89
552–595 574 49 112.00–135.00 $124.46 $714 +2.73
600–645 628 63 105.00–124.00 $117.13 $736 +6.45
650–695 666 20 105.00–120.00 $110.60 $737 -2.35
700–745 722 35 95.00–112.00 $105.09 $759 +2.12
755–785 772 11 95.00–110.00 $104.26 $805 +0.37
800–820 810 3 85.00–104.00 $96.92 $785 +1.94
850–855 853 3 80.00–85.00 $83.34 $711 -1.66
905–925 915 2 81.00–84.00 $82.48 $755 -17.52
1030–1040 1035 2 84.00–85.00 $84.50 $875 —
1145 1145 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,030 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 127.50 $127.50 $376 —
325–330 329 4 130.00–135.00 $131.75 $433 —
370–380 378 4 135.00–142.00 $139.75 $528 —
400–440 416 12 122.50–140.00 $130.49 $543 +4.39
450–495 475 3 117.50–135.00 $127.57 $606 +7.39
500–545 522 21 112.50–130.00 $121.83 $636 +3.92
550–595 574 11 100.00–122.00 $113.61 $652 +0.80
605–640 627 9 95.00–110.00 $104.95 $658 -3.05
650–665 657 3 99.00–110.00 $103.33 $679 +0.75
700–743 727 6 91.00–109.00 $97.78 $711 -0.76
780 780 1 98.00 $98.00 $764 -4.92
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 125.00 $125.00 $306 —
350–367 363 4 120.00 $120.00 $436 -13.72
430 430 1 114.00 $114.00 $490 -2.80
460–485 475 4 122.50–128.00 $124.28 $590 —
505 505 1 122.50 $122.50 $619 +6.18
550 550 1 118.00 $118.00 $649 +10.51
560 560 2 95.00–108.00 $101.50 $568 -5.99
605 605 2 100.00–111.00 $105.50 $638 —
675 675 1 93.00 $93.00 $628 —
675 675 1 105.00 $105.00 $709 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1465 1179 80-85% 34 54.00–68.00 $62.13 $733 —
1185 1185 80-85% 1 58.00 $58.00 $687 —
1115–1435 1239 80-85% 7 65.00–73.00 $68.84 $853 +18.10
900–1790 1255 80-85% 97 46.00–61.00 $52.01 $653 —
910–1640 1257 80-85% 22 37.00–50.00 $44.08 $554 —
1070–1550 1306 80-85% 15 54.00–62.00 $57.19 $747 +3.04
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–1365 1084 85-90% 25 25.00–45.00 $35.00 $379 —
1045–1150 1090 85-90% 4 55.00–58.00 $56.78 $619 —
810–1700 1120 85-90% 74 36.00–55.00 $43.22 $484 -6.78
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355–1430 1393 75-80% 2 52.00–55.00 $53.46 $745 —
1190–1685 1439 75-80% 15 55.00–64.00 $58.58 $843 -0.02
1190–1825 1464 75-80% 68 47.00–60.00 $52.69 $771 —
1230–1755 1483 75-80% 9 55.00–61.00 $58.30 $865 —
1505–1880 1760 75-80% 6 40.00–50.00 $44.85 $789 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1995 1629 9 60.00–72.00 $67.19 $1,095 -6.96
1645 1645 1 76.50 $76.50 $1,258 +2.35
1435–1950 1772 14 83.00–95.00 $88.81 $1,574 +5.34
1665–1945 1780 5 91.00–97.00 $94.78 $1,687 +11.31
1175–2440 1787 36 73.00–84.00 $78.51 $1,403 -4.96

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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) 1 850.00 $850.00
885–1305 1082 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 750.00–775.00 $768.18
1090–1160 1125 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 820.00–910.00 $863.60
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1145 1145 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00
1100–1300 1163 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 675.00–700.00 $681.25
1110–1285 1198 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 500.00–575.00 $540.24
1100–1400 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 975.00–1,000.00 $987.50
1020–1460 1276 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 720.00–910.00 $816.44
1310 1310 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1400 1400 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 725.00–775.00 $750.00
1500 1500 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 875.00 $875.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
970 970 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 550.00 $550.00
850–1160 1033 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 610.00–710.00 $644.45
950–1310 1176 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 660.00–725.00 $683.26
1265 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825–830 828 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 495.00–585.00 $540.14
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00
915 915 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 600.00 $600.00
1050 1050 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 725.00 $725.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
870–1005 938 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 700.00–900.00 $807.20
970–1030 1008 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 825.00–925.00 $881.92
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800 800 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 600.00 $600.00

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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
900–1225 1063 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 975.00–1,100.00 $1,047.06 —
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00 —
1135–1300 1218 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 850.00–1,050.00 $943.22 —
1225 1225 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 975.00 $975.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 900.00–925.00 $912.50 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 1,000.00–1,335.00 $1,096.25 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,000.00–1,150.00 $1,075.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1005 1005 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 800.00 $800.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 4 75.00 $75.00 $315 -20.00
485 485 1 72.00 $72.00 $349 —
604 604 4 66.00 $66.00 $399 —
730 730 1 58.00 $58.00 $423 —
830 830 1 60.00 $60.00 $498 —
1270 1270 1 59.00 $59.00 $749 —

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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.