Cattle Market Pulse

Virginia Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Virginia · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 15, 2023

3,385 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $208.42/cwt +6.42 vs last sale · ≈ $974/hd at 468 lb · 204 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $203.24/cwt +6.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,099/hd at 541 lb · 180 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $230.01/cwt +5.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,463/hd at 636 lb · 176 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,385 3,865 3,616
Feeder cattle 3,337 3,865 3,586
Slaughter cattle 48 — 30

Market comments — USDA reporter

State Graded Feeder Cattle (Steers 1179, Dairy Steers 14, Heifers 1405, Bulls 739) Slaughter Cattle (Steers 27, Heifers 21) Value Added and most Natural cattle are Weaned and Vaccinated. Compared to last week: Feeder cattle mostly steady to 10.00 higher. Report includes sales from Blackstone, Front Royal, Lynchburg, Radiant, Roanoke-Hollins, Shenandoah, Springlake and Winchester.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 3 160.00 $160.00 $552 -97.50
350–395 381 7 236.00–258.00 $246.05 $937 +9.47
404–426 417 11 202.00–252.50 $233.86 $975 -19.26
424–436 430 15 225.00–252.00 $237.41 $1,021 -15.71
450–495 473 116 177.50–251.00 $236.70 $1,120 -0.24
522–534 531 25 172.00–246.00 $213.07 $1,131 -17.34
500–548 543 148 151.00–252.50 $236.80 $1,286 +6.39
554 value added 554 28 240.00 $240.00 $1,330 -3.93
553–563 558 25 240.00–254.00 $246.66 $1,376 +8.48
550–597 565 106 160.00–251.00 $238.64 $1,348 +0.46
633 value added 633 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,393 -1.32
610–649 636 174 206.00–239.00 $230.13 $1,464 +5.97
651–670 656 11 229.00–240.00 $236.94 $1,554 +22.46
665–693 675 14 200.00–232.00 $228.65 $1,543 +14.17
720 720 14 220.00 $220.00 $1,584 +13.00
722 value added 722 9 210.00 $210.00 $1,516 +5.00
710–746 732 40 139.00–209.00 $201.82 $1,477 +1.69
750–790 766 10 170.00–200.00 $183.08 $1,402 +18.08
853 value added 853 13 183.00 $183.00 $1,561 —
900 900 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,503 —
985 985 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,601 —
1080 1080 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,404 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 211.00 $211.00 $601 —
315–345 340 13 211.00–259.00 $255.36 $868 +9.41
350–377 373 14 206.00–243.00 $236.57 $882 -9.08
420–449 443 46 158.00–248.00 $228.55 $1,012 -24.91
455–490 471 29 180.00–245.00 $223.36 $1,052 -5.43
500–549 540 75 181.00–236.00 $230.40 $1,244 -0.91
551–590 560 24 170.00–225.00 $204.72 $1,146 -21.07
562 value added 562 9 168.00 $168.00 $944 -51.02
600–648 value added 608 29 204.00–217.00 $212.68 $1,293 -37.32
615–649 634 22 175.00–221.00 $218.97 $1,388 +2.37
657–678 665 25 174.00–234.00 $213.82 $1,422 +0.27
715–748 727 15 163.00–208.00 $180.47 $1,312 -10.78
756–768 760 6 188.00–189.00 $188.34 $1,431 +17.03
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–345 336 10 167.50–210.00 $202.02 $679 -35.98
430 430 1 165.00 $165.00 $710 -77.00
450–495 462 13 120.00–222.50 $187.95 $868 -15.07
500–530 510 3 131.00–210.00 $158.37 $808 -16.63
560–570 562 5 171.00–224.00 $213.25 $1,198 +12.85
653–660 654 8 180.00–192.00 $190.49 $1,246 -4.51
813 813 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,057 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462 value added 462 4 249.00 $249.00 $1,150 +1.50
615 value added 615 14 222.00 $222.00 $1,365 -2.40
652 value added 652 10 219.00 $219.00 $1,428 —
739 value added 739 5 182.00 $182.00 $1,345 -27.71
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1460 1460 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,606 —
1485 1485 1 161.00 $161.00 $2,391 —
1305–1710 1539 12 171.00–185.00 $178.45 $2,746 —
1465–2095 1711 13 122.00–178.50 $161.23 $2,759 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 175.00 $175.00 $560 —
425–443 439 4 128.00–186.00 $171.95 $755 +4.48
460–463 463 6 167.50–172.00 $168.25 $779 —
510 510 2 177.00 $177.00 $903 +8.14
580–585 583 2 165.00–182.50 $173.79 $1,013 +16.91
625 625 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,125 +16.50
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
646 value added 646 5 188.00 $188.00 $1,214 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–340 322 3 181.00–219.00 $199.95 $644 +12.87
351–390 373 36 142.00–219.00 $205.44 $766 +7.03
425 425 9 200.00 $200.00 $850 +1.26
415–445 431 18 138.00–223.00 $192.43 $829 -6.31
450–494 467 189 147.00–220.00 $207.73 $970 +5.73
473–474 474 15 212.00–219.00 $217.14 $1,029 +15.14
515 515 8 210.00 $210.00 $1,082 +13.43
505–546 542 172 181.00–215.00 $202.93 $1,100 +6.36
556 556 10 212.00 $212.00 $1,179 +27.78
551–590 557 57 166.00–210.00 $202.55 $1,128 +18.33
572 value added 572 5 221.00 $221.00 $1,264 +12.50
600–640 633 74 158.00–185.00 $179.81 $1,138 +6.69
653–690 657 19 169.00–188.00 $183.97 $1,209 +7.65
653–683 value added 660 13 188.00–202.00 $198.66 $1,311 —
708 value added 708 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,310 —
708 708 5 189.00 $189.00 $1,338 +17.52
705–740 728 6 126.00–185.00 $166.89 $1,215 -4.59
753–790 762 6 165.00–174.00 $167.22 $1,274 +3.28
773 773 7 187.00 $187.00 $1,446 +23.06
809 value added 809 9 182.50 $182.50 $1,476 —
850 850 1 158.00 $158.00 $1,343 —
965–994 989 6 117.00–144.00 $139.61 $1,381 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
288 288 3 180.00 $180.00 $518 +33.65
331–335 332 14 151.00–229.00 $210.90 $700 +34.85
350–395 366 98 130.00–230.50 $214.50 $785 +6.07
400–449 441 129 150.00–223.00 $210.86 $930 +5.14
452–485 465 75 175.00–223.00 $206.97 $962 +8.03
500–546 540 73 141.00–214.00 $202.88 $1,096 +9.73
553–590 559 30 178.00–222.00 $189.92 $1,062 +22.46
569 value added 569 8 208.00 $208.00 $1,184 —
620–647 637 23 150.00–182.00 $174.42 $1,111 -1.64
651–655 652 13 188.50–189.00 $188.62 $1,230 +24.01
720–745 730 5 167.50–179.00 $172.53 $1,259 +9.43
810 value added 810 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,199 —
835 835 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,315 —
875 875 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,146 -10.86
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 150.00 $150.00 $398 —
310 310 1 182.50 $182.50 $566 +41.50
355–373 360 40 129.00–223.00 $202.95 $731 +7.72
420–443 438 25 141.00–210.00 $200.57 $878 +4.27
450–475 460 35 139.00–215.00 $192.40 $885 +23.12
500–545 532 26 139.00–192.00 $181.89 $968 +3.42
560–585 563 22 145.00–209.00 $187.37 $1,055 +3.96
600–639 631 10 171.00–184.00 $181.53 $1,145 +27.35
755–778 764 6 120.00–166.00 $149.88 $1,145 +6.92
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378–387 383 5 175.00–181.00 $178.63 $684 -16.37
491 491 6 185.00 $185.00 $908 -14.00
523 523 5 166.00 $166.00 $868 -37.70
539–547 value added 545 26 211.00–219.00 $217.48 $1,185 —
637 value added 637 21 199.00 $199.00 $1,268 +58.00
718 value added 718 4 180.00 $180.00 $1,292 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 172.50 $172.50 $673 -16.50
429–440 431 8 167.50–194.50 $188.35 $812 +17.35
475 475 1 140.00 $140.00 $665 -41.79
500 500 1 160.00 $160.00 $800 -2.96
555–560 556 9 130.00–180.00 $169.86 $944 —
637 637 7 168.00 $168.00 $1,070 —
710 710 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,129 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155 1155 1 173.50 $173.50 $2,004 —
1260–1585 1401 19 165.00–183.00 $177.09 $2,481 —
1700 1700 1 150.00 $150.00 $2,550 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–343 327 10 185.00–250.00 $239.26 $782 +3.78
357–397 370 19 180.00–250.00 $227.30 $841 -25.70
425–435 429 55 190.00–249.00 $234.89 $1,008 -2.96
450–495 481 72 206.00–232.00 $223.43 $1,075 +6.92
505–548 519 20 136.00–228.50 $201.97 $1,048 -20.55
550–572 560 82 196.50–222.00 $213.06 $1,193 -3.18
600–640 624 42 135.00–209.00 $199.86 $1,247 +2.76
651–675 658 23 167.00–210.00 $193.44 $1,273 +13.38
739 739 9 180.00 $180.00 $1,330 +16.00
755–795 777 6 120.00–178.00 $158.24 $1,230 -9.76
867 867 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,344 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–341 336 42 192.00–259.00 $242.13 $814 +5.66
355–380 373 26 151.00–253.00 $230.18 $859 -14.92
415–441 427 78 185.00–249.00 $228.10 $974 -14.91
453–492 486 74 183.00–242.50 $227.79 $1,107 +6.65
505–545 532 41 165.00–227.00 $211.54 $1,125 +17.48
554–588 565 30 160.00–213.00 $199.76 $1,129 -10.74
615–648 637 17 160.00–200.00 $189.13 $1,205 -4.62
650–695 680 12 167.00–201.00 $175.00 $1,190 +20.08
788 788 3 125.00 $125.00 $985 —
800 800 1 132.50 $132.50 $1,060 -6.50
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 2 210.00 $210.00 $704 +1.66
355 355 1 150.00 $150.00 $532 -60.00
430–435 433 11 185.00–230.00 $212.18 $919 +22.53
450–497 466 13 170.00–230.00 $214.10 $998 +2.25
525–535 533 10 182.50–200.00 $193.01 $1,029 +2.21
590 590 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,003 +6.71
645 645 2 135.00 $135.00 $871 -36.25
650 650 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,008 +30.00
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363–375 366 4 155.00–175.00 $169.88 $622 —
415–422 421 10 170.00–180.00 $179.01 $754 -4.38
485 485 1 196.00 $196.00 $951 -1.63
500 500 1 160.00 $160.00 $800 —
556 556 4 182.50 $182.50 $1,015 +8.66
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 8 237.00 $237.00 $1,138 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1024 1024 7 146.50 $146.50 $1,500 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
798 798 7 143.00 $143.00 $1,141 —

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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.