Cattle Market Pulse

Virginia Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Virginia · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 29, 2024

3,476 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $254.00/cwt +6.35 vs last sale · ≈ $1,367/hd at 538 lb · 200 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $298.28/cwt +4.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,656/hd at 555 lb · 195 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $272.61/cwt -4.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,728/hd at 634 lb · 167 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,476 3,759 3,595
Feeder cattle 3,432 3,759 3,553
Slaughter cattle 44 — 42

Market comments — USDA reporter

State Graded Feeder Cattle (Steers 1142, Heifers 1503, Bulls 787) State Graded Slaughter Cattle (Steers 30, Heifers 14) Value Added cattle are Weaned and Vaccinated. Compared to last week: Feeder cattle mostly 1.00 to 7.00 higher. Report includes sales from Blackstone, Culpeper, Front Royal, Lynchburg, Radiant, Roanoke-Hollins, Shenandoah Valley, 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
325–328 327 4 320.00–329.00 $322.23 $1,054 -4.65
360–390 378 16 322.50–337.50 $327.04 $1,236 +10.03
400–444 435 31 299.00–335.00 $325.98 $1,418 -3.90
460–490 471 67 273.00–327.00 $316.89 $1,493 +2.99
476 value added 476 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,428 —
520 520 5 302.00 $302.00 $1,570 +8.78
500–540 529 43 268.00–320.00 $296.11 $1,566 +2.89
552–590 555 192 290.00–306.00 $298.08 $1,654 +4.24
562 value added 562 3 311.00 $311.00 $1,748 —
623–629 value added 627 12 271.00–281.00 $275.14 $1,725 -11.45
607–648 634 140 247.50–281.00 $272.87 $1,730 -2.52
639–642 640 15 261.00–270.00 $268.19 $1,716 -7.20
650–670 665 4 245.00–278.00 $256.49 $1,706 -7.86
668 668 14 255.00 $255.00 $1,703 -9.35
683 value added 683 4 270.00 $270.00 $1,844 -9.00
715–739 731 29 235.00–245.00 $240.87 $1,761 -0.82
755–768 764 3 224.00–236.00 $232.05 $1,773 +3.11
770 770 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,848 +11.06
792 value added 792 8 233.00 $233.00 $1,845 -13.05
835 value added 835 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,858 -2.63
840 840 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,688 —
853 value added 853 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,877 —
865–870 868 2 162.50–227.50 $194.91 $1,692 -20.23
920 920 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,711 —
941 941 12 220.00 $220.00 $2,070 —
950–980 965 2 167.50–205.00 $186.54 $1,800 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 315.00 $315.00 $866 —
300–327 319 8 210.00–327.50 $299.61 $956 -10.96
361–395 373 45 271.00–338.50 $324.99 $1,212 -5.54
410–435 428 10 297.50–320.00 $316.56 $1,355 +15.56
430 value added 430 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,268 +5.00
450–490 462 63 200.00–319.50 $311.25 $1,438 -14.41
524–546 value added 532 12 239.00–312.50 $273.99 $1,458 -8.39
500–548 540 63 251.00–301.50 $297.18 $1,605 +3.56
555–595 575 7 125.00–289.00 $252.68 $1,453 -31.42
622 value added 622 2 262.50 $262.50 $1,633 +3.50
610–640 633 21 268.00–277.50 $272.36 $1,724 -2.96
655 value added 655 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,500 —
650–672 665 8 225.00–270.00 $251.93 $1,675 -9.07
709–745 713 10 175.00–236.00 $229.62 $1,637 -1.82
715 value added 715 6 223.00 $223.00 $1,594 -47.00
763 763 7 218.00 $218.00 $1,663 -19.08
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 377 11 334.00 $334.00 $1,259 —
457 value added 457 2 312.50 $312.50 $1,428 —
478 478 24 342.00 $342.00 $1,635 +20.00
685 value added 685 22 280.00 $280.00 $1,918 —
692 692 12 245.00 $245.00 $1,695 —
705 value added 705 4 251.00 $251.00 $1,770 +10.35
761 value added 761 9 210.00 $210.00 $1,598 -34.00
805 value added 805 6 236.00 $236.00 $1,900 —
850–898 value added 892 62 208.00–219.25 $218.21 $1,946 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 8 285.00 $285.00 $921 —
360–373 370 4 200.00–300.00 $275.66 $1,020 -48.34
438–446 442 9 240.00–313.00 $280.54 $1,240 +16.56
463–480 466 6 297.50–318.00 $314.48 $1,465 -6.42
540–547 545 7 255.00–290.00 $271.41 $1,479 -2.66
563–580 565 7 199.00–245.00 $238.26 $1,346 —
605–633 628 6 236.00–265.00 $259.00 $1,627 +15.73
761 761 4 180.00 $180.00 $1,370 —
889 889 5 225.00 $225.00 $2,000 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390–1700 1518 3 147.00–170.00 $160.41 $2,435 —
1450–1785 1617 27 174.00–190.00 $179.26 $2,899 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 328 3 255.00 $255.00 $836 —
432–440 435 3 287.50–290.00 $288.34 $1,254 —
475–495 485 2 125.00–231.00 $176.91 $858 -93.09
558–580 561 8 200.00–282.50 $271.83 $1,525 —
615 615 3 237.50 $237.50 $1,461 -1.50
735–740 738 4 195.00–218.00 $206.54 $1,524 —
830 value added 830 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,577 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 130.00 $130.00 $604 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 8 277.50 $277.50 $907 +6.96
353–395 372 35 245.00–280.00 $272.77 $1,015 +3.06
423 value added 423 5 280.00 $280.00 $1,184 —
410–445 430 39 232.50–277.00 $265.56 $1,142 -0.98
451–498 474 156 250.00–260.50 $258.39 $1,225 +0.01
500–548 538 200 235.00–269.00 $254.00 $1,367 +6.35
550 value added 550 3 251.00 $251.00 $1,380 —
555–595 565 34 225.00–245.00 $236.25 $1,335 -9.25
589 589 14 245.00 $245.00 $1,443 -0.50
619 value added 619 5 267.00 $267.00 $1,653 —
628–642 636 81 130.00–251.00 $236.56 $1,505 +3.40
655–676 661 15 165.00–237.00 $214.77 $1,420 -14.77
705–747 739 34 146.00–225.00 $214.87 $1,588 +3.61
775 value added 775 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,790 +9.84
787 787 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,417 -28.50
815–820 818 3 150.00–167.50 $155.81 $1,275 +14.32
854 854 6 202.00 $202.00 $1,725 +5.92
913 913 2 184.00 $184.00 $1,680 -25.00
955–965 960 2 142.00–147.50 $144.74 $1,390 -37.34
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
279 279 4 275.00 $275.00 $767 —
300–338 330 26 185.00–282.00 $271.66 $896 -4.80
352–384 367 86 260.00–287.00 $279.64 $1,026 -0.37
400–449 434 79 180.00–268.00 $258.13 $1,120 -11.54
439 value added 439 7 267.50 $267.50 $1,174 —
457–490 466 102 207.00–265.50 $261.05 $1,216 -1.28
525–542 541 105 235.00–255.00 $250.75 $1,357 +2.78
563 value added 563 10 249.00 $249.00 $1,402 —
564–597 578 10 212.50–245.00 $231.97 $1,341 -18.67
610–644 640 57 195.00–243.00 $231.20 $1,480 -6.55
655 655 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,408 -17.18
672 672 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,539 -3.18
708–723 719 10 175.00–230.00 $211.32 $1,519 -3.19
778 value added 778 4 180.00 $180.00 $1,400 —
915 915 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,848 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 195.00 $195.00 $575 -5.00
350–390 358 43 226.00–279.00 $269.72 $966 -6.49
418–443 437 9 215.00–254.00 $244.71 $1,069 -5.37
452–495 458 55 219.00–260.50 $253.22 $1,160 -6.50
518–549 543 24 210.00–249.50 $242.90 $1,319 -6.67
555–590 569 16 150.00–242.50 $224.92 $1,280 +0.29
630–648 644 7 195.00–228.00 $219.42 $1,413 -7.43
650–685 654 9 210.00–228.00 $225.90 $1,477 —
718 718 4 197.50 $197.50 $1,418 +1.50
775 775 2 228.00 $228.00 $1,767 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368 368 2 256.00 $256.00 $942 +1.00
399 399 10 285.00 $285.00 $1,137 +30.00
428 428 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,091 —
460 value added 460 6 254.00 $254.00 $1,168 —
466 466 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,142 —
508 value added 508 3 247.00 $247.00 $1,255 —
573–598 value added 583 18 205.00–253.00 $239.98 $1,399 -18.55
665 665 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,629 —
650–678 value added 668 37 234.00–249.00 $243.33 $1,625 +13.70
722 722 8 217.00 $217.00 $1,567 -17.33
797 797 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,594 —
820 820 2 197.00 $197.00 $1,615 -10.00
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 227.50 $227.50 $637 —
313 313 3 220.00 $220.00 $689 ±0.00
320 320 1 235.00 $235.00 $752 +15.00
358 358 4 260.00 $260.00 $931 -0.24
480 480 3 247.50 $247.50 $1,188 +8.43
554 554 17 249.50 $249.50 $1,382 —
640 640 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,248 -26.17
730 730 1 115.00 $115.00 $840 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 4 249.00 $249.00 $1,170 —
628 628 6 227.50 $227.50 $1,429 —
668 value added 668 6 202.00 $202.00 $1,349 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1735 1469 14 177.00–190.00 $181.93 $2,673 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940 value added 940 3 157.50 $157.50 $1,480 —
Medium and Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 150.00 $150.00 $885 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 142.50 $142.50 $684 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 317.50 $317.50 $921 -7.50
300–346 336 10 266.00–330.00 $314.09 $1,055 -11.52
363–395 376 17 282.50–330.00 $315.30 $1,186 -3.83
405–438 424 64 236.00–322.00 $300.68 $1,275 -17.46
455–493 488 78 262.50–302.50 $286.29 $1,397 -10.25
503–545 536 32 256.00–296.00 $287.06 $1,539 +7.64
553–590 568 106 231.00–287.50 $270.23 $1,535 +0.28
561–584 value added 571 9 257.50–265.00 $260.91 $1,490 —
600–649 629 41 220.00–260.00 $248.32 $1,562 +1.67
655–687 664 16 243.00–251.00 $245.11 $1,628 -2.71
715–746 740 18 190.00–221.00 $206.98 $1,532 -1.02
795 795 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,352 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306–348 331 17 235.00–332.00 $307.50 $1,018 -20.47
351–390 367 39 298.00–339.00 $324.34 $1,190 +15.50
400–430 421 70 243.00–327.00 $318.12 $1,339 +2.21
455–495 481 52 255.00–302.00 $290.19 $1,396 -1.87
515–545 534 8 252.50–292.00 $275.45 $1,471 -3.57
553–584 562 48 222.50–288.00 $274.48 $1,543 +15.11
618–645 630 15 185.00–272.00 $244.51 $1,540 -1.77
654–676 661 15 180.00–252.00 $224.44 $1,484 +1.94
718–730 721 6 187.00–209.00 $196.07 $1,414 -22.93
768 768 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,306 -28.52
840 840 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,470 —
850 850 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,445 —
900–918 912 3 160.00–175.00 $164.93 $1,504 —
990 990 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,584 —
1020 1020 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,632 —
1088 1088 2 136.00 $136.00 $1,480 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 3 250.00 $250.00 $845 -29.60
360–383 373 7 250.00–285.00 $272.42 $1,016 —
410–445 428 8 185.00–315.00 $280.10 $1,199 +3.80
450–463 459 3 235.00–290.00 $272.01 $1,249 +62.01
521–522 522 11 259.00–270.00 $266.00 $1,389 +0.48
553–585 564 3 250.00–270.00 $263.08 $1,484 +9.08
610 610 2 217.50 $217.50 $1,327 —
675 675 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,282 -37.50
745 745 1 75.00 $75.00 $559 -130.00
771 771 5 175.00 $175.00 $1,349 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 215.00 $215.00 $559 —
375 375 2 300.00–325.00 $312.50 $1,172 —
422–431 428 8 277.00–280.00 $278.89 $1,194 +2.91
450–493 487 15 195.00–260.00 $252.00 $1,227 -15.50
505–520 513 2 160.00–240.00 $199.41 $1,023 -31.42
567–585 570 6 195.00–232.50 $226.09 $1,289 -30.91
670 670 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,675 +90.00
755 755 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,132 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640 640 5 220.00 $220.00 $1,408 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1470 1191 80-85% 11 100.00–124.00 $114.32 $1,362 —
980–1480 1224 80-85% 7 120.00–137.00 $128.50 $1,573 —
1260–1275 1268 80-85% 2 119.00–129.00 $123.97 $1,572 —
1270 1270 80-85% 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,143 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–1010 852 85-90% 3 13.00–60.00 $43.09 $367 —
990–1125 1058 85-90% 2 60.00–75.00 $67.98 $719 —
770–1310 1083 85-90% 9 70.00–117.00 $103.33 $1,119 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370 1370 75-80% 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,671 —
1410 1410 75-80% 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,734 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 65-75% 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,303 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,314 —
1375–1450 1400 3 130.00–132.00 $131.31 $1,838 —
1375–2235 1976 5 125.00–167.00 $155.58 $3,074 —

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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.