heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers$163.00/cwt≈ $926/hd at 568 lb · 42 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$139.00/cwt-1.00 vs last sale · ≈ $767/hd at 552 lb · 28 head
light 8-weight L 1 steers$132.20/cwt≈ $1,093/hd at 827 lb · 20 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,350
1,800
1,675
Feeder cattle
350
695
900
Slaughter cattle
1,000
1,100
775
Replacement cattle
—
5
—
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last Thursday at the same market, Stocker and feeder steers weak in alight test. Not enough stocker or feeder heifers this week for accurate trends. Quality not as attractive this week as last week as most offerings where small lots and singles. Feeder cattle futures ended the Thursday trading session 7 to 85 cents lower in the front months, though May ’22 contracts closed with a 15 cent gain. The 12/15 CME Feeder Cattle Index was 69 cents weaker at $161.08. Slaughter cows steady to weak with an interest out of the market. Slaughter bulls firm in a light test. The weekly FAS Export Sales data showed 17,129 MT of beef was booked during the week that ended 12/9. That was up from just 4k MT sold last week and compares to just 2,989 MT during the same week last year. For 2022 bookings, USDA reported 5,720 MT were sold during the same week. China was the top buyer for 2022 delivery. China has 2,604 MT on the books for 2022, though total forward sales are at 54,122 MT.
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last Thursday at the same market, Stocker and feeder steers weak in alight test. Not enough stocker or feeder heifers this week for accurate trends. Quality not as attractive this week as last week as most offerings where small lots and singles. Feeder cattle futures ended the Thursday trading session 7 to 85 cents lower in the front months, though May ’22 contracts closed with a 15 cent gain. The 12/15 CME Feeder Cattle Index was 69 cents weaker at $161.08. Slaughter cows steady to weak with an interest out of the market. Slaughter bulls firm in a light test. The weekly FAS Export Sales data showed 17,129 MT of beef was booked during the week that ended 12/9. That was up from just 4k MT sold last week and compares to just 2,989 MT during the same week last year. For 2022 bookings, USDA reported 5,720 MT were sold during the same week. China was the top buyer for 2022 delivery. China has 2,604 MT on the books for 2022, though total forward sales are at 54,122 MT.