heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$151.47/cwt-5.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,016/hd at 671 lb · 20 head
light 7-weight L 1 heifers$144.50/cwt-6.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,052/hd at 728 lb · 17 head
heavy 5-weight S 1-2 heifers$153.23/cwt≈ $881/hd at 575 lb · 17 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,850
2,550
1,450
Feeder cattle
650
1,225
250
Slaughter cattle
1,100
1,225
1,000
Replacement cattle
100
100
200
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last Thursday, not enough Stocker or feeder steers for accurate trends. Stocker and feeder heifers weak in a light test. CME Feeder cattle gave back $0.92 to $1.92 on the day. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was another 2 cents weaker on 5/3 at $155.75. Slaughter cows steady to 4.00 higher. Slaughter bulls firm. Trade active with good demand for all classes. FAS Export Sales data showed 14,585 MT of beef was sold during the week that ended 4/28. That was up 27% from last week, but still under the 15k MT sold two weeks back and the 17k MT from the same week last year. The report also had 20,338 MT of beef exports from the week, which was up 15% wk/wk and 10% yr/yr. Accumulated beef exports are outpacing last year by 2.4% with 309,0333 MT shipped out through 4/28.
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, not enough Stocker or feeder steers for accurate trends. Stocker and feeder heifers weak in a light test. CME Feeder cattle gave back $0.92 to $1.92 on the day. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was another 2 cents weaker on 5/3 at $155.75. Slaughter cows steady to 4.00 higher. Slaughter bulls firm. Trade active with good demand for all classes. FAS Export Sales data showed 14,585 MT of beef was sold during the week that ended 4/28. That was up 27% from last week, but still under the 15k MT sold two weeks back and the 17k MT from the same week last year. The report also had 20,338 MT of beef exports from the week, which was up 15% wk/wk and 10% yr/yr. Accumulated beef exports are outpacing last year by 2.4% with 309,0333 MT shipped out through 4/28.