Cattle Market Pulse

Virginia Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Virginia · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 18, 2024

4,980 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $296.97/cwt -5.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,656/hd at 558 lb · 215 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 2 heifers $269.60/cwt -5.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,237/hd at 459 lb · 196 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $254.44/cwt +1.37 vs last sale · ≈ $1,389/hd at 546 lb · 170 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,980 4,710 4,201
Feeder cattle 4,902 4,710 4,166
Slaughter cattle 78 — 35

Market comments — USDA reporter

State Graded Feeder Cattle (Steers 1593, Dairy Steers 63, Heifers 2208, Dairy Heifers 4, Bulls 1034) State Graded Slaughter Cattle (Steers 34, Heifers 44) Value Added and most Natural cattle are Weaned and Vaccinated. Compared to last week: Feeder cattle uneven, mostly 5.00 lower to 5.00 higher. Report includes sales from Blackstone, Front Royal, Lynchburg, Marshall, Monterey, Radiant, Roanoke-Hollins, Rockingham, Springlake, Staunton 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
305–340 329 6 320.00–350.00 $334.09 $1,099 -17.32
350–395 370 27 274.00–359.00 $337.88 $1,250 +0.28
411–448 420 27 265.00–332.50 $319.18 $1,341 +13.87
434 434 3 362.50 $362.50 $1,573 +57.19
451–496 467 142 307.00–334.00 $318.37 $1,487 +10.12
477 value added 477 1 301.00 $301.00 $1,436 -4.00
515–525 520 6 323.00–331.00 $326.96 $1,700 +34.34
500–548 527 27 237.50–302.00 $286.30 $1,509 -6.32
551–588 557 197 284.00–315.00 $295.11 $1,644 +2.47
560 560 4 331.00 $331.00 $1,854 +38.36
550–581 value added 564 14 279.00–330.00 $313.39 $1,768 +0.09
620 value added 620 3 280.00 $280.00 $1,736 -6.27
632 632 5 263.00 $263.00 $1,662 -8.80
605–649 640 77 257.50–292.50 $265.20 $1,697 -6.60
650–695 667 21 235.00–280.00 $267.51 $1,784 +17.66
663–675 value added 672 26 285.00–300.00 $288.99 $1,942 -4.28
661–696 679 28 254.00–305.50 $295.70 $2,008 +45.85
708–731 value added 725 40 242.50–280.00 $265.32 $1,924 +7.39
705–745 730 45 225.00–265.00 $248.16 $1,812 +3.43
740–747 745 33 255.00–258.00 $257.12 $1,916 +10.12
753–754 753 17 247.00–251.00 $250.06 $1,883 +17.70
750–773 768 8 155.00–228.00 $204.20 $1,568 -28.16
768–770 value added 768 5 225.00–240.00 $236.99 $1,820 -1.84
815 value added 815 7 244.00 $244.00 $1,989 +13.86
800–845 827 5 206.00–225.00 $219.39 $1,814 -14.61
855–867 value added 865 15 222.00–232.50 $223.38 $1,932 -5.73
860–873 866 9 220.00–221.00 $220.33 $1,908 -3.67
945 945 1 182.00 $182.00 $1,720 -28.00
965–979 972 21 201.00–214.00 $207.86 $2,020 —
1003–1045 1010 6 167.50–204.00 $197.71 $1,997 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328–340 333 7 295.00–350.00 $329.35 $1,097 -10.40
368 value added 368 8 315.00 $315.00 $1,159 -35.00
370–395 382 32 250.00–355.00 $338.18 $1,292 -6.79
430 value added 430 7 320.00 $320.00 $1,376 -25.00
435 435 14 330.00 $330.00 $1,436 -0.30
410–448 441 61 275.00–326.00 $317.15 $1,399 -13.15
450–495 469 44 175.00–324.00 $291.50 $1,367 -22.11
486–499 value added 492 9 321.00–337.50 $330.06 $1,624 +0.36
529 value added 529 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,746 +18.17
500–549 542 80 195.00–332.50 $294.14 $1,594 -5.42
567 value added 567 5 305.00 $305.00 $1,729 +17.92
556–597 576 22 155.00–290.00 $257.85 $1,485 -27.95
602 value added 602 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,656 ±0.00
605–630 624 4 257.50–311.00 $298.03 $1,860 +24.90
605–649 643 23 185.00–305.00 $261.36 $1,681 -11.77
650–678 661 18 180.00–267.00 $250.07 $1,653 -23.33
685–695 value added 693 4 232.50 $232.50 $1,611 —
709–736 731 19 195.00–240.00 $233.19 $1,705 +5.92
719–736 value added 733 13 191.00–246.00 $228.03 $1,671 —
858–862 861 7 205.00–219.00 $215.01 $1,851 -5.99
904 value added 904 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,537 —
915–948 940 4 175.00–185.00 $182.57 $1,716 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 12 340.00 $340.00 $1,734 —
565–566 565 21 295.50–304.00 $298.74 $1,688 —
584–595 value added 593 19 305.00–310.00 $308.96 $1,832 +5.02
610–643 value added 620 39 160.00–312.00 $261.15 $1,619 -20.86
644 644 9 289.00 $289.00 $1,861 —
677 value added 677 11 288.50 $288.50 $1,953 +23.40
681 681 13 252.50 $252.50 $1,720 -12.50
708 708 12 235.00 $235.00 $1,664 +35.00
709–742 value added 721 56 253.00–267.50 $255.37 $1,841 +0.90
764 value added 764 6 235.00 $235.00 $1,795 -17.00
918 918 14 209.00 $209.00 $1,919 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278 278 2 245.00 $245.00 $681 —
300 300 1 220.00 $220.00 $660 —
350–390 369 7 210.00–332.50 $274.31 $1,012 -35.53
439 439 13 317.00 $317.00 $1,392 +1.00
450–487 464 10 225.00–315.00 $284.30 $1,319 +24.46
520–548 542 22 200.00–295.00 $272.44 $1,477 +8.12
552–596 591 23 230.00–295.00 $275.22 $1,627 —
600–645 628 4 200.00–259.00 $240.27 $1,509 +22.77
670 670 1 252.00 $252.00 $1,688 +40.52
718 718 4 227.50 $227.50 $1,633 +16.54
761–770 764 3 165.00–220.00 $183.48 $1,402 —
780 value added 780 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,365 —
860 860 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,462 +15.00
1000 1000 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,675 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343–345 344 4 285.00–292.00 $288.51 $992 —
446 446 16 265.00 $265.00 $1,182 —
450–475 463 2 247.50–282.00 $264.28 $1,224 -4.30
553 553 3 235.00 $235.00 $1,300 —
630–638 635 9 160.00–247.50 $218.58 $1,388 +17.37
680 680 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,377 -10.00
715–725 720 3 100.00–200.00 $156.90 $1,130 -63.10
753 753 2 110.00 $110.00 $828 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1433 1433 2 164.00 $164.00 $2,350 —
1450–1770 1608 32 170.00–195.00 $184.07 $2,960 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
603 value added 603 6 302.00 $302.00 $1,821 +51.00
Medium and Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 115.00 $115.00 $575 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
249 249 7 287.50 $287.50 $716 —
288 288 3 226.00 $226.00 $651 —
331–333 331 11 270.00–287.00 $283.89 $940 +0.20
371–395 379 65 255.00–296.00 $287.83 $1,091 -5.44
410–445 432 64 237.50–285.00 $275.28 $1,189 +5.09
453–489 463 141 242.50–274.00 $269.66 $1,249 +2.38
479 value added 479 7 280.00 $280.00 $1,341 —
522 value added 522 5 251.00 $251.00 $1,310 —
534 534 7 285.00 $285.00 $1,522 +31.93
510–549 547 158 165.00–263.00 $253.19 $1,385 +0.12
552–599 563 56 187.50–257.00 $247.05 $1,391 -0.35
570–575 value added 574 9 220.00–256.00 $252.03 $1,447 -17.97
608–625 616 11 244.00–246.00 $244.82 $1,508 +9.14
625–641 639 37 217.00–231.00 $226.13 $1,445 -9.55
651–695 661 67 190.00–238.50 $229.84 $1,519 +12.44
675–682 value added 681 11 230.00–236.00 $234.92 $1,600 +12.30
722 722 13 244.00 $244.00 $1,762 +29.70
730 value added 730 3 164.00 $164.00 $1,197 -38.84
700–745 733 32 196.00–220.00 $212.43 $1,557 -1.87
758–798 value added 766 15 203.00–216.00 $213.29 $1,634 -15.71
766 766 5 216.00 $216.00 $1,655 +8.32
755–795 779 27 150.00–209.00 $199.98 $1,558 -7.70
813 value added 813 32 211.00 $211.00 $1,715 -8.75
830 830 4 208.00 $208.00 $1,726 +34.62
855–880 858 9 150.00–207.00 $200.50 $1,720 +8.51
923 923 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,754 +9.00
955–980 value added 957 11 151.00–155.00 $154.63 $1,480 —
1000 1000 1 139.00 $139.00 $1,390 —
1095 1095 2 178.00 $178.00 $1,949 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 225.00 $225.00 $652 —
300–340 322 27 170.00–290.00 $274.98 $885 -12.14
356–388 370 89 260.00–304.00 $291.62 $1,079 +2.55
385 385 1 100.00 $100.00 $385 -189.07
420–445 430 48 210.00–288.00 $274.56 $1,181 -6.23
433 433 4 285.00 $285.00 $1,234 +4.21
451 value added 451 7 276.00 $276.00 $1,245 —
450–498 459 189 165.00–279.00 $269.36 $1,236 -5.55
500–548 544 123 175.00–261.00 $252.58 $1,374 -2.30
553–576 555 87 170.00–262.00 $251.06 $1,393 +6.29
565–572 value added 571 11 205.00–239.00 $235.94 $1,347 —
606 value added 606 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,076 -90.18
610–645 633 79 160.00–243.00 $225.81 $1,429 -13.82
650–665 661 14 205.00–232.00 $228.94 $1,513 +9.94
675 value added 675 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,418 -30.00
705–737 729 24 183.00–220.00 $210.37 $1,534 +3.49
755–788 771 5 175.00–210.00 $193.10 $1,489 +17.10
753–797 value added 785 5 145.00–172.50 $155.74 $1,223 -43.26
812 812 3 192.50 $192.50 $1,563 +25.00
855–860 858 2 152.50–192.50 $172.56 $1,481 -7.33
863 863 2 162.50 $162.50 $1,402 -17.39
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 3 195.00–232.50 $220.00 $715 -20.00
350–383 361 71 200.00–299.00 $285.33 $1,030 +30.27
407–440 432 15 210.00–263.00 $246.99 $1,067 -19.03
450–485 456 115 178.00–274.00 $263.61 $1,202 -1.33
515–549 540 75 208.00–254.50 $249.32 $1,346 -0.61
557–570 564 5 216.00–235.00 $225.81 $1,274 -9.85
605–647 645 23 213.00–235.00 $222.40 $1,434 —
650 650 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,398 -4.82
720–732 729 4 160.00–175.00 $171.30 $1,249 -22.48
770–780 775 2 165.00–182.50 $173.69 $1,346 +11.19
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
388 388 3 240.00 $240.00 $931 -5.00
452–494 value added 467 21 251.00–284.00 $263.58 $1,231 -14.10
463–493 483 15 233.00–277.00 $262.94 $1,270 +17.94
515–530 516 38 228.00–284.00 $280.97 $1,450 —
552–556 555 10 225.00–258.00 $248.15 $1,377 —
562–575 value added 570 8 243.00 $243.00 $1,385 -22.56
607–630 value added 622 44 215.00–250.00 $241.57 $1,503 +2.38
623 623 8 239.00 $239.00 $1,489 —
651 651 7 245.00 $245.00 $1,595 +19.00
652 652 3 219.00 $219.00 $1,428 -7.00
678–696 value added 691 27 225.00–234.00 $230.88 $1,595 -18.61
716 716 9 206.00 $206.00 $1,475 —
719 719 8 235.00 $235.00 $1,690 —
736 value added 736 8 211.00 $211.00 $1,553 -11.89
768 value added 768 19 225.00 $225.00 $1,728 +20.00
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354–390 357 11 242.50–283.00 $277.36 $990 +22.36
442 442 14 264.00 $264.00 $1,167 +71.50
460 460 2 247.00 $247.00 $1,136 -21.00
535–540 540 22 165.00–242.50 $239.01 $1,291 +16.26
560 560 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,344 -8.50
568 value added 568 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,301 —
600–643 630 17 160.00–216.00 $210.38 $1,325 -5.62
650 650 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,332 +78.24
720 720 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,080 -26.79
761–790 767 5 135.00–178.00 $169.14 $1,297 —
850–875 863 2 115.00–145.00 $130.22 $1,124 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1307–1345 1317 4 160.50–166.00 $164.60 $2,168 —
1201–1570 1361 40 170.50–195.00 $181.80 $2,474 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 value added 349 4 221.00 $221.00 $771 —
509 value added 509 5 237.50 $237.50 $1,209 —
569 569 5 237.50 $237.50 $1,351 —
Medium and Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
488 488 2 198.00 $198.00 $966 +19.00
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 180 1 205.00 $205.00 $369 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316–336 330 13 330.00–345.00 $334.42 $1,104 -0.93
352–385 367 50 265.00–346.00 $331.23 $1,216 +9.82
409–445 424 106 227.50–380.00 $336.76 $1,428 +24.13
450–495 482 125 170.00–318.00 $288.79 $1,392 +8.74
515–545 541 85 250.00–277.50 $273.17 $1,478 -4.68
555–580 566 25 242.00–269.00 $260.27 $1,473 +1.87
627 value added 627 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,442 —
605–648 634 53 210.00–267.50 $244.90 $1,553 +3.95
670–695 683 2 180.00–235.00 $208.00 $1,421 -23.23
728–748 735 9 165.00–230.00 $217.28 $1,597 +22.57
785 785 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,334 -30.00
805–815 810 2 205.00–215.00 $210.03 $1,701 +13.03
1085 1085 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,454 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 200.00 $200.00 $590 —
327–334 330 16 338.00–345.00 $341.10 $1,126 +21.73
350–395 359 61 250.00–348.00 $331.63 $1,191 +0.25
404–445 422 97 205.00–326.00 $309.89 $1,308 -3.32
465–494 486 85 280.00–303.00 $293.79 $1,428 +4.15
533–547 545 30 220.00–281.50 $274.01 $1,493 +18.31
550–588 566 46 180.00–281.50 $257.81 $1,459 +0.90
610–640 630 47 145.00–268.00 $246.32 $1,552 +1.34
668–676 value added 671 11 211.00–220.00 $216.70 $1,454 —
665–685 678 3 110.00–225.00 $157.68 $1,069 -60.32
745 value added 745 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,416 —
752–797 767 6 100.00–200.00 $164.59 $1,262 —
840 840 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,533 -7.50
930 930 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,581 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354 354 15 294.00 $294.00 $1,041 —
420 420 1 220.00 $220.00 $924 -77.42
450–494 460 24 228.00–302.50 $267.60 $1,231 -19.90
510–546 542 32 150.00–272.50 $252.66 $1,369 -17.34
605–645 638 6 220.00–227.50 $226.32 $1,444 —
877 877 3 182.50 $182.50 $1,601 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–343 340 6 180.00–290.00 $265.93 $904 —
410–435 415 12 265.00–297.50 $284.16 $1,179 +13.24
496–498 496 16 269.00–283.00 $270.76 $1,343 +9.15
545 545 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,090 —
564 564 10 235.00 $235.00 $1,325 -14.23
685 685 1 223.00 $223.00 $1,528 —
Medium and Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 585 1 145.00 $145.00 $848 —
705 705 1 100.00 $100.00 $705 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 100.00 $100.00 $270 —
445 445 1 105.00 $105.00 $467 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
787 787 3 152.00 $152.00 $1,196 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710 710 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,154 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358 358 3 232.50 $232.50 $832 —
410–415 412 3 182.50–245.00 $224.00 $923 —
505–535 515 3 227.50–265.00 $252.01 $1,298 —
583 583 12 262.00 $262.00 $1,527 —
675–690 688 15 175.00–241.00 $233.98 $1,610 —
760 760 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,520 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,339 —
583 583 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,253 —
705–725 708 8 195.00 $195.00 $1,381 —
820 820 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,660 —
865–878 874 6 170.00–172.50 $171.67 $1,500 —
936 936 6 168.00 $168.00 $1,572 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1143 1143 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,772 —

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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.