Cattle Market Pulse

Tennessee Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 12, 2022

5,809 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 $151.52/cwt +8.21 vs last sale · ≈ $944/hd at 623 lb · 260 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $145.03/cwt +1.73 vs last sale · ≈ $833/hd at 574 lb · 234 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $148.62/cwt +2.21 vs last sale · ≈ $776/hd at 522 lb · 212 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,809 8,015 5,936
Feeder cattle 4,480 6,631 4,732
Slaughter cattle 926 1,024 889
Replacement cattle 403 360 315

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers were unevenly steady based on a light test due to the upcoming Christmas holiday. Slaughter cows were mostly steady to 3.00 higher, and slaughter bulls were mostly steady with mostly moderate demand for slaughter classes. This is the last weekly summary of 2022. Summaries will resume after the new year begins. Happy holidays and safe travels to everyone!

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 4 170.00 $170.00 $400 -32.50
255–295 272 8 160.00–195.00 $172.22 $468 -24.02
305–345 326 25 162.00–220.00 $184.99 $603 -1.60
360 fancy 360 1 202.50 $202.50 $729 +3.80
350–399 378 39 164.00–215.00 $189.26 $715 +5.92
415 fancy 415 1 199.00 $199.00 $826 -1.00
400–447 427 53 160.00–196.00 $180.77 $772 -2.49
430–436 value added 436 104 195.00–211.75 $211.59 $923 +19.04
450–480 fancy 468 3 188.00–194.00 $190.67 $892 —
453–495 474 56 164.00–192.50 $178.76 $847 +1.70
470–498 value added 489 6 175.00–176.00 $175.32 $857 -18.14
509 fancy 509 5 182.00 $182.00 $926 —
500–537 value added 519 8 185.00–186.00 $185.12 $961 -2.55
500–548 522 65 150.00–188.00 $170.91 $892 -1.22
557–570 value added 564 10 170.00–187.00 $178.20 $1,005 +1.83
570 570 1 140.00 $140.00 $798 -25.04
550–595 579 58 154.00–182.50 $166.74 $965 +1.70
600 fancy 600 1 163.00 $163.00 $978 —
600 600 2 136.00 $136.00 $816 +11.00
610–635 value added 617 40 165.00–176.50 $173.78 $1,072 +6.67
600–645 621 66 140.00–170.00 $161.20 $1,001 +0.53
653–683 value added 668 19 159.00–167.50 $160.45 $1,072 -0.30
655–692 676 66 147.00–169.00 $157.92 $1,068 +4.03
700–747 715 31 135.00–166.00 $148.99 $1,065 -0.94
702–740 value added 734 95 153.00–170.10 $167.19 $1,227 +14.15
752–795 768 13 140.00–156.00 $150.14 $1,153 -4.28
755–787 value added 785 30 155.00–158.00 $155.24 $1,219 +2.54
800–845 805 68 130.00–167.00 $162.51 $1,308 +15.99
800–845 value added 835 85 148.00–168.00 $164.03 $1,370 +6.00
870–880 value added 875 2 148.00–150.00 $149.01 $1,304 +8.03
875–887 884 16 130.00–148.00 $143.27 $1,267 +0.18
918 918 2 127.00 $127.00 $1,166 +3.26
942 value added 942 3 147.50 $147.50 $1,389 —
960 960 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,210 -0.10
1115 1115 4 138.00 $138.00 $1,539 —
1150–1155 1153 2 120.00–122.00 $121.00 $1,395 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–240 229 6 165.00–175.00 $169.89 $389 +8.00
255–297 284 6 155.00–165.00 $158.93 $451 -16.96
305–335 325 7 150.00–180.00 $161.05 $523 -1.05
355–398 382 14 125.00–180.00 $163.84 $626 -4.90
400–430 416 5 125.00–180.00 $151.49 $630 -10.10
450–495 477 13 124.00–175.00 $153.20 $731 -5.09
500–549 531 26 130.00–162.50 $152.02 $807 +1.19
555–595 573 14 130.00–160.00 $145.80 $835 +0.48
600–640 623 3 132.00–152.00 $144.24 $899 +5.22
660–695 678 5 132.00–144.00 $138.74 $941 +0.55
720–725 721 4 110.00–130.00 $121.76 $878 -10.75
755–785 770 4 110.00–137.50 $129.43 $997 -10.05
800–830 815 2 110.00–130.00 $120.18 $979 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 150.00 $150.00 $472 -10.00
520 520 1 142.50 $142.50 $741 -14.50
560–580 573 3 132.50–149.00 $143.63 $823 +1.63
580 580 1 157.50 $157.50 $914 +15.50
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 140.00 $140.00 $434 -10.00
400–420 410 2 148.00–152.50 $150.30 $616 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240–245 243 2 170.00 $170.00 $413 —
270–295 284 9 139.00–175.00 $163.10 $463 +14.34
300–345 317 30 151.00–180.00 $161.86 $513 -1.99
365 365 1 120.00 $120.00 $438 -38.83
350–395 376 77 139.00–182.50 $158.72 $597 -0.11
411–425 fancy 415 4 152.50–177.50 $171.09 $710 —
400–447 426 101 125.00–174.00 $154.86 $660 +0.50
450–498 471 181 127.00–167.50 $149.04 $702 -3.08
463–498 value added 474 24 155.00–170.00 $164.18 $778 +2.26
480 fancy 480 1 171.00 $171.00 $821 —
500–505 fancy 504 8 166.50–168.00 $166.69 $840 —
500–546 523 169 129.00–160.00 $146.67 $767 +2.72
503–549 value added 524 34 140.00–164.00 $154.85 $811 +0.27
530 530 1 121.00 $121.00 $641 -22.95
550 fancy 550 1 157.50 $157.50 $866 —
550–595 573 192 132.00–155.00 $143.27 $821 +1.40
555–595 value added 582 41 149.00–156.00 $152.99 $890 +2.97
600–645 value added 623 160 132.00–163.00 $159.12 $991 +10.56
600–648 623 100 129.00–153.00 $139.35 $868 +1.25
650–678 value added 665 12 132.00–147.50 $142.56 $948 -13.98
650–697 672 76 132.00–153.00 $140.43 $944 +6.36
700–746 725 30 120.00–139.00 $131.89 $956 +31.89
760–795 773 13 121.00–135.00 $130.19 $1,006 +4.01
755–795 value added 775 5 130.00–137.00 $133.40 $1,034 -5.95
785 785 1 112.00 $112.00 $879 -14.18
800–840 value added 825 3 132.00–135.00 $133.66 $1,103 —
815–840 834 6 116.00–132.00 $124.57 $1,039 -0.99
835 835 1 103.00 $103.00 $860 -22.56
860–870 865 2 120.00–130.00 $125.03 $1,082 +10.20
890 value added 890 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,130 —
1010 1010 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,050 +10.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
217–248 238 13 130.00–150.00 $148.54 $354 +16.18
265–295 283 3 150.00–160.00 $153.47 $434 +13.90
305–340 328 9 122.50–157.50 $135.39 $444 -9.11
350–385 370 10 136.00–160.00 $145.67 $539 +2.90
400–443 430 29 120.00–152.50 $132.86 $571 -1.44
450–495 475 19 116.00–152.50 $135.53 $644 +3.70
500–540 524 15 121.00–144.00 $133.72 $701 +0.74
550 thin fleshed 550 1 148.00 $148.00 $814 —
550–595 574 22 102.00–139.00 $133.11 $764 +3.78
600–645 620 6 120.00–135.00 $126.17 $782 +1.85
670–695 677 7 120.00–130.00 $124.27 $841 +7.96
715 715 1 124.00 $124.00 $887 +12.92
755 755 1 120.00 $120.00 $906 +22.19
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 140.00 $140.00 $385 —
325 325 1 130.00 $130.00 $422 -2.56
355–380 365 3 120.00–130.00 $124.10 $453 -28.40
355–390 373 4 132.50–152.50 $141.81 $529 -10.69
405 405 1 112.50 $112.50 $456 -8.50
430 430 1 132.50 $132.50 $570 +6.97
460–475 468 2 120.00–140.00 $130.16 $609 +10.16
560–590 573 3 100.00–130.00 $113.20 $649 -14.30
600 600 1 92.00 $92.00 $552 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 130.00 $130.00 $384 —
670 670 1 99.00 $99.00 $663 —
790 790 1 100.00 $100.00 $790 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–340 320 2 185.00–197.50 $190.86 $611 +10.08
350–395 378 33 159.00–197.00 $181.64 $687 -1.89
400–445 427 34 148.00–195.00 $172.20 $735 +0.79
430 fancy 430 1 194.00 $194.00 $834 —
465–475 fancy 468 5 187.50–190.00 $188.51 $882 -2.28
450–495 469 91 140.00–190.00 $173.31 $813 +4.16
490 490 1 137.50 $137.50 $674 -31.65
517 value added 517 2 181.00 $181.00 $936 —
500–548 529 94 140.00–175.00 $158.66 $839 +3.41
555–597 582 66 144.00–170.00 $152.88 $890 +3.65
606 fancy 606 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,000 —
600–649 623 59 130.00–161.00 $143.43 $894 +2.47
650–695 675 72 126.00–145.00 $135.80 $917 +0.50
705–745 735 39 121.00–139.00 $127.46 $937 +1.57
750 750 2 130.00 $130.00 $975 +7.18
810–830 823 3 115.00–127.00 $121.98 $1,004 +8.73
861–875 863 7 110.00–118.00 $111.16 $959 -12.76
1075 1075 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,043 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 147.50 $147.50 $487 —
355–390 370 4 137.50–170.00 $159.42 $590 +10.12
400–445 420 26 140.00–170.00 $154.35 $648 +2.05
450–495 478 21 142.00–162.50 $153.33 $733 +7.12
505–540 515 16 118.00–150.00 $140.30 $723 +3.45
555–585 571 14 128.00–150.00 $136.86 $781 +7.76
600–645 629 20 120.00–138.00 $132.00 $830 +3.37
665–685 676 9 109.00–125.00 $121.48 $821 -3.83
751–753 752 6 110.00–118.00 $115.33 $867 —
965 965 4 102.50 $102.50 $989 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335–340 338 2 150.00 $150.00 $507 -5.00
355–360 358 2 147.50–150.00 $148.74 $532 +5.43
365 365 1 158.00 $158.00 $577 +14.69
402 402 2 150.00 $150.00 $603 -5.90
480–485 483 2 137.50–145.00 $141.27 $682 -5.57
500 500 1 150.00 $150.00 $750 —
550–570 558 3 121.00–140.00 $127.79 $713 +4.86
575–595 585 3 120.00–135.00 $128.25 $750 +13.56
630 630 3 110.00 $110.00 $693 -12.03
615–642 633 3 119.00–120.00 $119.32 $755 -2.71
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1510–1620 1565 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 1,500.00–1,625.00 $1,564.70 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885 885 80-85% 1 74.00 $74.00 $655 —
860–1480 1138 80-85% 30 50.00–63.00 $58.40 $665 +1.21
820–1740 1208 80-85% 185 61.00–76.00 $67.71 $818 —
1040–1590 1292 80-85% 19 73.00–81.00 $76.88 $993 +0.42
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1550 1349 75-80% 9 58.00–66.00 $62.01 $837 —
1170–1665 1443 75-80% 10 74.00–82.00 $77.60 $1,120 +9.03
1060–2035 1456 75-80% 125 62.00–79.00 $69.84 $1,017 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735–1150 928 85-90% 18 35.00–52.00 $46.33 $430 —
830–1090 991 85-90% 4 65.00–69.00 $66.36 $658 —
760–1515 1059 85-90% 117 45.00–69.00 $58.45 $619 -0.27

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1215 1149 4 85.00–91.00 $87.98 $1,011 —
1055–1965 1505 24 68.00–85.00 $78.91 $1,188 +0.23
1125–2200 1702 47 84.00–104.00 $94.46 $1,608 —
1545–2130 1833 9 92.00–108.00 $103.23 $1,892 —
2290 2290 1 92.50 $92.50 $2,118 —

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Stock Cows

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
780 780 (<2 yrs)Open 1 800.00 $800.00
815 815 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 710.00 $710.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
940 940 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 970.00 $970.00
945 945 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 570.00 $570.00
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
950 950 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00
900–1150 1064 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 800.00–910.00 $870.04
1020–1505 1124 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 750.00–1,150.00 $947.71
1035–1250 1145 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 900.00–1,400.00 $1,194.76
1120–1175 1148 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 650.00–730.00 $690.96
855–1525 1164 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 21 850.00–1,125.00 $954.68
1165 fancy 1165 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,380.00 $1,380.00
1200 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
910–1565 1205 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 550.00–920.00 $773.35
1065–1470 1299 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 900.00–960.00 $918.65
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 875.00–1,050.00 $962.50
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
845–1025 881 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 720.00–845.00 $815.91
935 935 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
972 972 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 600.00 $600.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860 860 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00
880 880 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00
940–1055 998 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 810.00–840.00 $824.14
1010 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 860.00 $860.00
— — Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 720.00 $720.00

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Bred Heifers

Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
700 700 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
780 780 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 810.00 $810.00
925 925 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 810.00 $810.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
975 975 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 880.00 $880.00

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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
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,180.00 $1,180.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
780 780 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 950.00 $950.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 3 109.00 $109.00 $565 —
590 590 2 110.00 $110.00 $649 —
900 900 1 90.00 $90.00 $810 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 88.00 $88.00 $418 —
730 730 1 82.00 $82.00 $599 —
890 890 1 85.00 $85.00 $756 —

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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.