Cattle Market Pulse

Virginia Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Virginia · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 20, 2024

2,500 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 heifers $254.41/cwt -0.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,414/hd at 556 lb · 154 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $305.82/cwt +2.55 vs last sale · ≈ $1,694/hd at 554 lb · 150 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $284.55/cwt +6.19 vs last sale · ≈ $1,812/hd at 637 lb · 137 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,500 2,673 2,815
Feeder cattle 2,332 2,646 2,815
Slaughter cattle 168 27 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

State Graded Feeder Cattle (Steers 868, Heifers 1067, Bulls 397) State Graded Slaughter Cattle (Steers 126, Heifers 42) Value Added cattle are Weaned and Vaccinated Compared to last week: uneven with heavy cattle trending mostly 4.00 to 10.00 lower and lighter cattle 3.00 to 10.00 higher Report includes sales from: Blackstone, Front Royal, Hollins, Lynchburg, Marshall, Radiant, 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
318–330 322 3 335.00–342.50 $339.94 $1,095 -5.06
383–386 384 9 335.00–357.50 $347.46 $1,334 +26.90
425–440 427 10 305.00–346.00 $341.77 $1,459 -3.15
453–483 467 67 295.00–336.00 $328.62 $1,535 +4.86
513 513 6 335.00 $335.00 $1,719 +28.76
517–546 536 16 185.00–306.00 $288.02 $1,544 -18.22
541 value added 541 7 335.00 $335.00 $1,812 +20.00
550–594 553 141 286.00–335.00 $304.72 $1,685 +5.58
568 568 9 323.00 $323.00 $1,835 +23.86
611–629 622 19 290.00–311.00 $303.40 $1,887 +25.04
621–649 639 118 247.50–320.00 $281.51 $1,799 +3.15
656–675 658 14 273.00–280.00 $275.22 $1,811 +27.42
660 value added 660 6 315.00 $315.00 $2,079 +27.00
705–743 734 45 242.00–275.00 $251.35 $1,845 -8.63
758–785 776 4 145.00–230.00 $202.35 $1,570 -27.40
820–838 831 15 228.00–245.00 $238.57 $1,983 +11.78
850–877 874 10 190.00–239.00 $234.24 $2,047 —
968 968 2 209.00 $209.00 $2,023 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–344 341 7 327.50–348.00 $345.25 $1,177 +2.75
373–385 377 4 300.00–347.50 $335.54 $1,265 +8.70
421–445 428 6 279.00–355.00 $333.79 $1,429 +2.56
435 435 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,088 -81.23
453–481 461 54 297.00–355.00 $322.81 $1,488 -0.09
490 value added 490 2 340.00 $340.00 $1,666 —
500–544 540 41 285.00–314.00 $304.19 $1,643 +38.28
561–590 572 17 237.50–330.00 $293.50 $1,679 -5.06
605–644 631 32 241.00–306.00 $274.63 $1,733 -3.18
664 664 4 300.00 $300.00 $1,992 +22.91
721–736 729 7 235.00–254.00 $247.86 $1,807 +22.86
752 value added 752 3 218.00 $218.00 $1,639 —
792 792 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,782 +10.18
803–810 805 3 210.00–234.00 $225.95 $1,819 -6.55
860–862 861 3 215.00–219.00 $217.66 $1,874 —
915 915 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,885 —
1131 1131 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,810 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1375 1316 3 155.00–175.50 $166.31 $2,189 —
1253–1476 1345 9 172.25–175.00 $173.03 $2,327 —
1296–1800 1554 111 176.00–186.10 $182.58 $2,837 —
2035 2035 1 171.00 $171.00 $3,480 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354 354 3 305.00 $305.00 $1,080 —
424 424 4 317.50 $317.50 $1,346 —
539 539 7 320.00 $320.00 $1,725 —
539–540 540 28 335.00–345.00 $342.50 $1,850 —
568 value added 568 13 319.00 $319.00 $1,812 +2.36
623 623 11 299.00 $299.00 $1,863 +20.00
632 value added 632 3 315.00 $315.00 $1,991 +26.51
624–646 636 15 305.00–310.00 $307.29 $1,954 +28.29
710 710 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,633 —
726 726 4 242.00 $242.00 $1,757 —
790 value added 790 6 236.00 $236.00 $1,864 ±0.00
987 987 11 214.00 $214.00 $2,112 —
1042 1042 3 200.00 $200.00 $2,084 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,156 —
355 355 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,083 -7.28
415–445 438 9 300.00–360.00 $312.65 $1,369 +25.65
470–492 483 7 260.00–350.00 $296.01 $1,430 -6.26
520–545 531 5 245.00–315.00 $273.87 $1,454 +66.09
568–570 569 3 255.00–300.00 $284.96 $1,621 +11.92
613–620 615 4 235.00–255.00 $240.04 $1,476 +6.31
660 660 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,881 —
831 831 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,288 —
855–875 865 2 165.00–180.00 $172.59 $1,493 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358 358 3 282.50 $282.50 $1,011 +102.50
450–460 454 8 200.00–277.50 $251.76 $1,143 —
530 530 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,537 +27.50
565 565 6 265.00 $265.00 $1,497 +20.00
600–648 638 5 190.00–220.00 $214.36 $1,368 -20.64
850 850 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,402 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 value added 535 3 345.00 $345.00 $1,846 —
610 value added 610 6 315.00 $315.00 $1,922 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–341 334 6 245.00–295.00 $287.52 $960 +15.92
356–384 368 17 257.00–297.00 $292.93 $1,078 +11.72
405–431 425 25 230.00–289.00 $277.31 $1,179 +2.52
461 461 8 263.00 $263.00 $1,212 +1.57
460–495 469 123 250.00–272.00 $268.01 $1,257 +6.58
523 523 12 264.00 $264.00 $1,381 +9.12
500–534 529 20 225.00–262.50 $244.37 $1,293 -10.51
555 555 14 256.00 $256.00 $1,421 +1.48
550–597 556 140 230.00–256.00 $254.25 $1,414 -0.27
614 value added 614 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,443 —
610–636 634 76 225.00–244.75 $243.04 $1,541 +7.17
651 651 10 180.00 $180.00 $1,172 -49.03
700–745 726 47 165.00–233.00 $224.04 $1,627 +13.75
750 750 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,282 —
809 value added 809 5 221.00 $221.00 $1,788 —
822–827 825 17 219.00–227.00 $223.72 $1,846 —
855 855 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,796 +3.02
945 945 1 213.00 $213.00 $2,013 +10.00
1110 1110 1 163.00 $163.00 $1,809 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
232 232 1 310.00 $310.00 $719 —
285 285 1 240.00 $240.00 $684 —
338–348 343 9 250.00–304.00 $284.90 $977 +10.74
365–397 373 35 230.00–299.00 $289.65 $1,080 +3.60
373 373 2 212.50 $212.50 $793 -73.55
380–390 value added 388 4 250.00–270.00 $265.10 $1,029 —
428 value added 428 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,070 —
412–447 435 15 250.00–290.00 $263.48 $1,146 -11.43
437 437 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,158 -9.91
454–490 459 81 175.00–275.00 $269.64 $1,238 +10.77
505–532 value added 528 6 210.00–235.00 $231.01 $1,220 —
500–543 538 23 240.00–255.00 $247.68 $1,333 -3.88
550–586 555 56 200.00–264.00 $255.10 $1,416 +13.90
578 578 4 237.50 $237.50 $1,373 -3.70
615–646 634 41 190.00–249.00 $237.24 $1,504 -1.15
625–645 value added 635 4 200.00–215.00 $207.38 $1,317 —
652–685 680 13 175.00–238.00 $232.90 $1,584 +9.80
697 697 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,255 -43.10
705–731 725 4 215.00–226.50 $223.70 $1,622 +16.84
750–769 758 5 213.00–220.00 $217.16 $1,646 —
828 828 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,594 -10.50
853–855 854 3 190.00–200.00 $193.34 $1,651 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335–348 346 7 255.00–260.00 $259.31 $897 -13.34
360–380 373 10 225.00–300.00 $285.28 $1,064 +46.22
415–448 437 16 195.00–281.00 $258.16 $1,128 -4.96
458–485 460 12 185.00–268.00 $260.71 $1,199 -11.29
507–531 514 10 207.00–220.00 $211.03 $1,085 -37.61
550–595 554 30 220.00–258.75 $251.39 $1,393 +11.39
625–638 632 10 170.00–239.00 $228.34 $1,443 +12.10
655–680 670 11 175.00–206.00 $191.98 $1,286 -14.52
795 795 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,192 -15.00
825 825 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,072 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 2 293.00 $293.00 $1,108 —
431 431 5 287.00 $287.00 $1,237 —
455 455 4 250.00 $250.00 $1,138 —
476 476 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,214 —
529 529 26 259.00 $259.00 $1,370 —
544 544 5 235.00 $235.00 $1,278 —
586 586 8 235.00 $235.00 $1,377 —
850 850 10 198.00 $198.00 $1,683 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1113–1317 1266 4 168.00–173.00 $171.90 $2,176 +1.90
1168–1623 1401 35 180.00–187.00 $183.53 $2,571 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–363 361 5 270.00–279.00 $277.23 $1,001 +11.23
433 433 8 257.00 $257.00 $1,113 +19.50
455–483 468 8 185.00–255.00 $224.29 $1,050 -32.71
528–540 538 10 220.00–243.00 $238.48 $1,283 +8.92
600 600 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,305 +9.88
665 665 1 150.00 $150.00 $998 —
763 763 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,297 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 2 240.00 $240.00 $696 —
305 value added 305 3 265.00 $265.00 $808 —
418 418 5 298.00 $298.00 $1,246 —
443 value added 443 2 220.00 $220.00 $975 —
Medium and Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 185.00 $185.00 $564 +85.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–346 333 5 317.50–348.00 $338.87 $1,128 +25.03
381 381 5 337.50 $337.50 $1,286 -5.55
419–430 428 30 310.00–342.00 $328.16 $1,405 +15.27
465–499 482 46 286.00–315.00 $298.08 $1,437 +4.79
515–548 544 24 251.00–302.50 $298.65 $1,625 +33.44
554–592 568 44 220.00–290.00 $279.96 $1,590 +5.98
610–636 632 29 235.00–262.50 $259.95 $1,643 +4.26
655–694 683 5 225.00–255.00 $233.74 $1,596 -23.15
705–745 734 4 190.00–219.00 $196.96 $1,446 -22.22
763–767 764 10 218.00–227.00 $220.71 $1,686 —
828 828 5 209.00 $209.00 $1,731 +24.00
850 850 2 192.50 $192.50 $1,636 +0.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–340 329 12 305.00–351.00 $341.38 $1,123 +10.35
368–396 381 10 235.00–345.00 $303.17 $1,155 -26.51
417–446 428 39 280.00–328.00 $321.97 $1,378 +11.39
475–495 485 20 247.50–310.00 $299.46 $1,452 +1.10
522–547 539 28 225.00–297.50 $275.38 $1,484 +4.87
550–570 560 17 254.00–287.50 $277.50 $1,554 +6.44
622–630 627 9 245.00–265.00 $251.66 $1,578 +1.17
710–745 731 8 195.00–238.00 $208.60 $1,525 -13.80
820 820 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,312 -17.50
855 855 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,368 —
920 920 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,449 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 200.00 $200.00 $760 —
416–440 424 5 285.00–300.00 $295.48 $1,253 +22.98
480–495 485 3 245.00–265.00 $258.20 $1,252 -11.80
513–535 524 6 206.00–280.00 $242.22 $1,269 +21.35
560–595 578 2 215.00–274.00 $245.39 $1,418 +5.39
650 650 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,170 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 322.50 $322.50 $1,113 —
352 352 6 305.00 $305.00 $1,074 ±0.00
455–480 472 3 230.00–245.00 $234.82 $1,108 +27.32
530 530 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,312 -8.06
605 605 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,452 +15.00
708–720 712 3 170.00–200.00 $189.89 $1,352 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
643 643 6 244.00 $244.00 $1,569 +29.00

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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.