Cattle Market Pulse

Tennessee Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 17, 2021

7,017 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $127.31/cwt +1.58 vs last sale · ≈ $732/hd at 575 lb · 268 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $132.93/cwt +1.13 vs last sale · ≈ $631/hd at 475 lb · 261 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $127.72/cwt -0.56 vs last sale · ≈ $670/hd at 525 lb · 236 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,017 4,341 8,952
Feeder cattle 5,556 3,211 7,138
Slaughter cattle 933 716 1,055
Replacement cattle 528 414 759

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers were unevenly steady with moderate to good demand, and the best demand noted for long-weaned, preconditioned cattle. Slaughter cows and bulls were mostly steady to 3.00 higher with moderate to good demand.

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
210–240 231 6 164.00–180.00 $166.83 $385 -11.28
250–290 270 19 150.00–190.00 $171.87 $464 +2.27
300–345 324 30 150.00–185.00 $165.48 $536 +15.48
350–398 378 69 150.00–181.00 $166.99 $631 +0.68
405 value added 405 2 165.00 $165.00 $668 —
415 thin fleshed 415 1 140.00 $140.00 $581 —
400–447 432 44 145.00–167.00 $158.73 $686 -0.89
445 445 1 142.50 $142.50 $634 -17.12
450–498 479 107 140.00–164.00 $154.12 $738 -0.44
480 thin fleshed 480 2 137.00 $137.00 $658 —
507–535 value added 522 19 155.00–162.00 $158.22 $826 +4.42
500–548 523 118 131.00–160.00 $148.37 $776 -2.15
550 fancy 550 1 153.00 $153.00 $842 —
571–573 value added 571 49 150.00–152.25 $152.07 $868 +7.45
550–595 577 115 118.00–151.00 $143.66 $829 -0.41
600 thin fleshed 600 1 129.00 $129.00 $774 —
600–647 636 133 127.50–145.50 $141.40 $899 +6.36
612–648 value added 637 59 140.00–154.00 $145.75 $928 +2.30
650–681 value added 667 33 137.00–143.00 $142.16 $948 +3.66
650–696 672 66 120.00–141.00 $132.25 $889 -1.03
700–740 727 50 115.00–136.00 $131.14 $953 +8.07
740–745 value added 744 24 130.00–133.00 $131.04 $975 +0.50
750–790 768 13 118.00–132.00 $123.97 $952 +2.22
780 780 1 115.00 $115.00 $897 -6.75
805–840 822 8 110.00–117.00 $114.01 $937 -4.17
800–845 value added 836 89 122.00–127.50 $124.73 $1,043 —
850–893 866 12 108.00–115.00 $113.05 $979 -7.45
862–872 value added 871 28 122.50–129.00 $123.19 $1,073 +2.53
900–925 913 5 103.00–120.00 $111.58 $1,019 +4.19
927 value added 927 53 122.00 $122.00 $1,131 —
950 950 2 110.00 $110.00 $1,045 -1.98
953 value added 953 57 123.75 $123.75 $1,179 +9.75
1015 1015 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,025 -3.53
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
208–240 220 4 160.00–167.50 $162.60 $358 +15.43
250–295 272 5 130.00–152.50 $143.63 $391 -12.93
300–345 328 8 130.00–165.00 $147.40 $483 -3.97
355–380 365 9 131.00–160.00 $143.94 $525 -1.00
400–445 427 6 131.00–150.00 $140.52 $600 -6.30
450–490 475 7 132.00–142.50 $137.30 $652 -1.06
502–545 528 21 120.00–140.00 $128.52 $679 -8.82
575–595 587 6 120.00–135.00 $127.30 $747 -4.75
625–643 632 8 108.00–124.00 $117.56 $743 -8.42
650–665 658 2 122.00–125.00 $123.48 $812 —
728 728 2 113.00 $113.00 $823 —
755 755 1 115.00 $115.00 $868 —
843 843 5 106.00–109.00 $107.20 $904 —
870 870 1 100.00 $100.00 $870 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355–1360 1358 2 84.00–90.00 $87.01 $1,182 —
1810 1810 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,538 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 135.00 $135.00 $587 -10.00
455 455 1 132.50 $132.50 $603 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
208–245 220 4 142.50–150.00 $145.07 $319 -11.08
255–296 277 34 126.00–161.00 $146.30 $405 +1.85
304–325 value added 306 12 160.00–165.00 $160.44 $491 +7.44
300–345 322 43 130.00–158.00 $139.79 $450 +13.77
315–340 fancy 328 2 147.00–150.00 $148.56 $487 —
370 370 1 121.00 $121.00 $448 -16.51
375 value added 375 2 151.00 $151.00 $566 +8.50
350–397 377 126 129.00–153.00 $138.11 $521 +0.60
400–449 431 198 125.00–145.00 $133.92 $577 -0.56
468 value added 468 4 127.00–142.00 $134.50 $629 -3.50
450–498 475 253 120.00–141.00 $133.04 $632 +9.64
460–490 475 2 120.00–124.00 $121.94 $579 -1.46
475 thin fleshed 475 1 141.00 $141.00 $670 —
485 485 1 112.50 $112.50 $546 -10.90
510–520 value added 515 2 135.00 $135.00 $695 +4.20
500–548 525 234 117.00–137.00 $127.66 $670 -0.44
560 fancy 560 1 128.00 $128.00 $717 —
560 560 1 108.00 $108.00 $605 -16.06
550–595 575 194 114.00–136.00 $125.01 $719 +0.95
555–598 value added 575 72 127.50–135.75 $133.75 $769 +4.97
600–647 623 73 110.00–128.00 $119.53 $745 -0.77
603–648 value added 628 28 122.00–125.50 $123.83 $778 —
630 630 1 110.00 $110.00 $693 -10.30
652 value added 652 3 123.50 $123.50 $805 +3.50
650–695 670 94 104.00–123.75 $118.25 $792 +4.51
710–733 value added 715 19 107.50–116.00 $114.66 $820 —
700–741 727 45 100.00–120.00 $111.82 $813 +4.21
755–793 770 22 100.00–111.00 $108.30 $834 +5.29
800–840 823 8 96.00–104.00 $100.76 $829 +6.05
825–828 value added 828 10 102.50–109.00 $105.80 $876 —
851–885 value added 855 25 99.00–105.00 $104.25 $891 —
853–890 863 9 90.00–106.00 $101.71 $878 +4.75
900–943 929 3 97.00–100.00 $97.97 $910 +1.47
960 960 1 94.00 $94.00 $902 +15.00
1010 1010 1 88.00 $88.00 $889 —
1013 value added 1013 9 104.00 $104.00 $1,054 —
1084–1088 value added 1085 17 97.00–100.00 $97.53 $1,058 —
1085 1085 1 91.00 $91.00 $987 -21.50
1258 value added 1258 4 87.00 $87.00 $1,094 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 118.00 $118.00 $324 -15.16
310–340 326 7 117.50–131.00 $128.58 $419 +0.58
370–380 375 3 115.00–125.00 $120.82 $453 -7.98
378 thin fleshed 378 21 145.00 $145.00 $548 —
400–440 425 26 114.00–128.00 $124.48 $529 -4.31
450–499 480 35 112.00–133.00 $120.29 $577 -5.88
501 thin fleshed 501 5 127.00 $127.00 $636 —
500–547 530 29 108.00–122.00 $118.62 $629 -0.73
575–593 584 16 102.00–117.00 $114.21 $667 -2.59
600–640 621 8 100.00–112.50 $106.21 $660 -0.46
650–695 675 7 100.00–113.00 $105.05 $709 +13.77
815 815 1 80.00 $80.00 $652 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 100.00 $100.00 $290 -40.00
325 325 1 129.00 $129.00 $419 +4.00
355 355 1 122.50 $122.50 $435 —
425 425 1 120.00 $120.00 $510 —
450 450 1 113.00 $113.00 $508 —
470–480 475 3 110.00–123.00 $116.62 $554 +1.62
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 115.00 $115.00 $443 —
685 685 1 85.00 $85.00 $582 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230–240 236 4 160.00–167.50 $163.10 $385 -6.90
255–295 268 8 160.00–175.00 $165.96 $445 +4.85
300–345 322 17 149.00–172.50 $160.08 $515 -1.82
315–338 fancy 329 4 172.50–177.50 $175.69 $578 —
350–380 fancy 362 5 168.00–175.00 $170.64 $618 —
350–398 381 47 140.00–170.00 $155.81 $594 -1.17
430 fancy 430 1 167.50 $167.50 $720 +3.02
400–447 433 85 126.00–170.00 $152.74 $661 +11.74
460–465 fancy 463 2 150.00–152.00 $150.99 $699 -7.01
450–497 469 149 130.00–163.00 $147.81 $693 -2.03
500–545 522 149 120.00–156.00 $139.11 $726 -1.19
550–595 576 162 125.00–149.00 $136.33 $785 +1.95
600–645 618 72 112.00–139.00 $130.41 $806 +5.32
635 fancy 635 1 138.00 $138.00 $876 —
650–695 662 63 107.50–133.00 $124.19 $822 +0.58
700–745 723 38 102.00–121.00 $112.98 $817 +1.45
752–795 768 30 87.50–117.00 $107.41 $825 -2.16
805–845 820 20 97.00–111.00 $99.83 $819 +1.01
850–885 862 8 82.00–101.00 $90.79 $783 -6.18
910–940 917 7 84.00–104.00 $88.12 $808 -0.83
1015–1025 1020 2 90.00–99.00 $94.48 $964 +4.48
1055 1055 1 75.00 $75.00 $791 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
329 329 5 147.50 $147.50 $485 —
380–395 391 4 130.00–140.00 $132.43 $518 -9.70
400–445 422 17 127.00–146.00 $137.80 $582 -9.01
460–495 478 32 122.00–150.00 $134.78 $644 -4.58
500–549 526 27 115.00–144.00 $126.55 $666 -5.30
550–590 577 17 115.00–132.00 $122.65 $708 -1.19
605–645 627 18 107.00–125.00 $114.73 $719 -2.74
659–670 663 9 84.00–120.00 $111.37 $738 +1.77
708–735 720 4 110.00–115.00 $113.73 $819 —
750–790 770 2 91.00–101.00 $95.87 $738 —
820–845 828 3 80.00–95.00 $89.90 $744 -12.60
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 150.00 $150.00 $458 —
350 350 1 145.00 $145.00 $508 +17.50
415–430 423 2 130.00–134.00 $131.96 $558 +5.95
435 435 1 135.00 $135.00 $587 +12.50
455 455 1 127.50 $127.50 $580 -3.50
475–485 480 2 126.00–129.00 $127.52 $612 -3.48
505 505 1 110.00 $110.00 $556 -16.00
575 575 1 92.00 $92.00 $529 -28.00
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 1 107.00 $107.00 $653 +2.00
660 660 1 108.00 $108.00 $713 +8.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1400 1400 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 1,310.00 $1,310.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880–1340 1102 80-85% 10 52.00–59.00 $55.91 $616 —
820–1740 1161 80-85% 243 58.00–78.00 $67.97 $789 —
1000–1505 1264 80-85% 49 69.00–87.00 $78.17 $988 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625–1025 840 85-90% 14 34.00–51.00 $43.43 $365 —
890–945 918 85-90% 2 71.00–82.00 $76.66 $704 -1.10
890–1025 952 85-90% 5 65.00–73.00 $70.36 $670 —
690–1420 1008 85-90% 114 44.00–70.00 $58.72 $592 -0.53
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–2050 1403 75-80% 97 60.00–77.50 $69.52 $975 +1.87
1110–1710 1413 75-80% 19 70.00–81.00 $75.27 $1,064 +7.62
1420–1875 1625 75-80% 3 57.00–65.00 $62.12 $1,009 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1120 1120 1 82.00 $82.00 $918 —
1050–1800 1418 12 67.00–86.00 $81.26 $1,152 —
1265–2475 1668 77 85.00–101.00 $94.33 $1,573 —
1395–2010 1781 21 93.00–111.50 $101.62 $1,810 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 630.00 $630.00
1000–1150 1075 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 670.00–690.00 $680.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 890.00 $890.00
1045 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1000–1300 1061 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 760.00–880.00 $825.00
950–1200 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,050.00–1,100.00 $1,077.91
1050–1100 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 755.00–925.00 $840.00
1100 1100 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00
1000–1450 1138 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 850.00–1,090.00 $951.25
1100–1200 1150 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 750.00–780.00 $764.35
1025–1285 1217 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 590.00–900.00 $765.35
1000–1400 1221 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 800.00–975.00 $893.57
1000–1600 1225 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 760.00–930.00 $835.00
1150–1400 1290 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 750.00–980.00 $879.00
1345 1345 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
1190–1525 1358 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,025.00–1,075.00 $1,046.92
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990 990 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 $
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 740.00 $740.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800–950 875 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 775.00–920.00 $823.75
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
750 750 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00
750–800 775 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 625.00–720.00 $672.50

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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
1105 1105 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,145.00–1,280.00 $1,198.33 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 7 890.00–1,150.00 $1,014.29 —
— — Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,285.00 $1,285.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 900.00–1,000.00 $953.33 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,240.00–1,250.00 $1,245.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,050.00–1,175.00 $1,125.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,230.00–1,260.00 $1,245.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 860.00 $860.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795 795 1 66.00 $66.00 $525 —
815 815 3 72.00 $72.00 $587 —
965 965 1 67.00 $67.00 $647 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170 1170 1 83.00 $83.00 $971 —

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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.