Cattle Market Pulse

Virginia Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Virginia · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 16, 2024

2,284 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 $254.64/cwt +4.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,385/hd at 544 lb · 121 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $265.63/cwt -1.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,261/hd at 475 lb · 115 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $302.01/cwt +4.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,682/hd at 557 lb · 97 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,284 3,404 1,199
Feeder cattle 2,222 3,404 1,110
Slaughter cattle 62 — 89

Market comments — USDA reporter

State Graded Feeder Cattle (Steers 647, Heifers 965, Bulls 610) State Graded Slaughter Cattle (Steers 31, Heifers 31) Value Added and Natural cattle are Weaned and Vaccinated. Compared to last week: Feeder cattle uneven, mostly 2.00 lower to 8.00 higher. Report includes sales from Blackstone, Front Royal, Lynchburg, Monterey, Radiant, Roanoke-Hollins, Shenandoah, 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
330 330 1 372.50 $372.50 $1,229 ±0.00
380–395 388 7 310.00–368.00 $347.72 $1,349 +0.23
400 400 2 316.00 $316.00 $1,264 -7.29
413–443 419 14 317.00–340.00 $334.79 $1,403 +11.50
452–495 469 40 270.00–345.00 $329.40 $1,545 +8.63
508–543 524 45 324.00–325.00 $324.54 $1,701 +41.81
518–540 534 14 276.00–309.00 $301.72 $1,611 +18.99
542 value added 542 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,599 —
550–578 557 97 280.00–321.00 $302.01 $1,682 +6.20
620 value added 620 4 270.00 $270.00 $1,674 -8.84
600–648 636 80 256.00–295.00 $283.09 $1,800 -2.52
651–670 655 33 269.00–275.00 $274.17 $1,796 +13.75
658 658 11 287.00 $287.00 $1,888 +26.58
715–732 726 11 231.00–250.50 $247.33 $1,796 +0.80
738 value added 738 18 256.00 $256.00 $1,889 —
758–770 760 23 251.00–255.00 $252.40 $1,918 +11.40
760 value added 760 6 249.00 $249.00 $1,892 +9.00
820 820 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,771 -6.00
882 value added 882 2 231.00 $231.00 $2,037 —
915 915 2 236.00 $236.00 $2,159 —
1545 1545 3 181.00 $181.00 $2,796 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 value added 307 5 455.00 $455.00 $1,397 —
310 310 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,132 +17.46
368–382 373 8 335.00–377.00 $360.88 $1,346 +10.74
407–436 426 11 309.00–390.00 $343.67 $1,464 -6.56
454–490 462 37 287.50–341.00 $327.65 $1,514 +10.78
541–547 544 31 253.00–323.00 $305.85 $1,664 +22.26
561–585 566 12 265.00–314.00 $297.97 $1,687 +7.31
610–648 647 26 240.00–295.50 $286.46 $1,853 +24.87
665 665 1 288.00 $288.00 $1,915 +51.01
739 739 5 250.50 $250.50 $1,851 —
848 848 2 240.00 $240.00 $2,035 +4.64
915 915 1 222.50 $222.50 $2,036 +1.50
955 955 3 231.00 $231.00 $2,206 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 5 380.00 $380.00 $1,273 —
350 350 4 321.00 $321.00 $1,124 +7.00
405 405 2 285.00–314.00 $299.50 $1,213 +4.50
451–458 453 7 312.50–319.00 $317.12 $1,437 +48.59
535–540 535 12 260.00–276.00 $273.32 $1,462 -11.68
646 646 8 268.00 $268.00 $1,731 +38.32
695 695 1 257.50 $257.50 $1,790 +47.50
725 725 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,776 +31.53
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427–433 value added 430 12 330.00–390.00 $359.79 $1,547 —
497 value added 497 9 312.50 $312.50 $1,553 —
566 value added 566 5 279.00 $279.00 $1,579 -11.72
651 651 9 272.00 $272.00 $1,771 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1363 1363 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,908 —
1285–1790 1569 27 189.00–205.00 $198.86 $3,120 —
1560–1695 1607 3 195.00–200.00 $198.05 $3,183 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 2 293.00 $293.00 $1,149 —
495 495 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,238 +21.99
547 547 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,285 +60.00
666 666 3 254.00 $254.00 $1,692 —
795 795 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,622 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–290 283 2 257.50–305.00 $280.62 $794 -7.09
310–341 335 5 267.00–290.00 $285.74 $957 +6.23
355–377 373 32 205.00–295.00 $285.87 $1,066 +10.34
381 381 5 269.00 $269.00 $1,025 -6.53
405–440 424 32 217.50–293.00 $278.14 $1,179 +8.50
466 466 5 266.00 $266.00 $1,240 -1.02
466–495 475 110 225.00–272.00 $265.61 $1,262 -1.41
509–549 544 121 236.00–260.00 $254.64 $1,385 +4.74
561 561 30 261.00 $261.00 $1,464 +12.09
558–594 578 43 217.00–257.00 $238.39 $1,378 -3.61
616–649 640 66 220.00–248.00 $234.90 $1,503 +11.99
645 value added 645 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,490 —
658–685 662 21 210.00–230.00 $221.49 $1,466 -7.25
700–745 732 13 196.00–225.00 $205.77 $1,506 -4.47
765–770 767 3 190.00–201.00 $197.32 $1,513 -12.98
785 value added 785 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,570 —
820–830 824 5 211.00–220.00 $214.63 $1,769 +11.40
865 865 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,600 -20.00
915–928 924 3 160.00–200.00 $186.79 $1,726 -12.55
955 955 3 218.00 $218.00 $2,082 +32.18
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
301–328 316 13 245.00–305.00 $295.97 $935 +27.57
360–376 364 53 284.00–313.00 $298.32 $1,086 +13.64
390 value added 390 3 250.00 $250.00 $975 —
423–443 431 35 255.00–280.00 $271.50 $1,170 -0.07
453–497 470 59 241.00–276.50 $265.96 $1,250 -0.17
500–545 539 40 247.50–261.00 $253.93 $1,369 +4.66
550–575 554 27 235.00–253.00 $249.75 $1,384 +2.74
620–646 633 28 232.00–235.00 $232.11 $1,469 +4.06
655–675 665 2 210.00–221.00 $215.42 $1,433 +4.19
720–746 741 5 197.00–214.00 $200.30 $1,484 -11.82
753 753 6 225.00 $225.00 $1,694 +25.00
820 820 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,599 -2.37
851 851 5 212.00 $212.00 $1,804 +31.23
908 908 2 223.00 $223.00 $2,025 +35.25
990 990 2 213.00 $213.00 $2,109 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–388 372 32 240.00–293.00 $266.31 $991 +0.42
400–441 437 19 237.00–269.00 $258.57 $1,130 +4.18
468–470 469 7 245.00–251.00 $249.29 $1,169 -3.71
500–546 541 16 240.00–245.00 $242.56 $1,312 +11.31
572 572 3 252.00 $252.00 $1,441 +42.00
615–625 623 4 200.00–217.50 $204.32 $1,273 +5.27
657–690 665 4 195.00–212.00 $207.59 $1,380 +57.59
720 720 2 205.00 $205.00 $1,476 —
760 760 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,197 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 10 283.00 $283.00 $1,254 —
455–487 value added 468 26 245.00–282.50 $267.28 $1,251 —
560–568 value added 562 12 244.00–254.00 $246.53 $1,385 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 125.00 $125.00 $288 —
345 345 6 245.00 $245.00 $845 +114.92
370 370 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,092 +47.50
452–480 456 8 226.00–245.00 $228.50 $1,042 -2.22
528–549 544 13 192.50–227.00 $219.27 $1,193 -5.73
650 650 3 196.00 $196.00 $1,274 +4.00
805 805 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,368 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 1 188.00 $188.00 $2,378 —
1302–1526 1358 4 195.75–199.50 $196.80 $2,673 —
1283–1555 1360 24 193.50–203.00 $198.20 $2,696 —
1395–1425 1410 2 198.00–199.00 $198.51 $2,799 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 600 1 105.00 $105.00 $630 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 2 405.00 $405.00 $1,134 +80.73
301–348 339 27 339.00–405.00 $381.61 $1,294 +20.63
355–375 367 6 310.00–375.00 $349.23 $1,282 -1.68
402–437 421 37 317.00–347.50 $337.54 $1,421 -9.02
463–495 484 64 240.00–325.00 $307.56 $1,489 -6.36
539–548 540 19 258.00–274.00 $272.29 $1,470 -14.64
554–592 569 63 267.50–286.00 $278.94 $1,587 +5.87
620–640 627 38 244.00–259.50 $254.15 $1,594 +5.22
673–690 678 4 231.00–273.00 $252.10 $1,709 +10.21
766–795 773 20 205.00–231.00 $225.16 $1,740 +25.16
815–841 837 6 150.00–219.00 $207.80 $1,739 -4.49
927 927 3 167.00 $167.00 $1,548 -20.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324–330 326 8 282.50–390.00 $362.75 $1,183 -0.58
350–372 359 29 250.00–391.00 $357.81 $1,285 +0.94
400–441 424 49 262.50–345.50 $330.50 $1,401 -4.07
475–498 486 55 285.00–315.00 $306.80 $1,491 +0.24
546 546 17 266.00 $266.00 $1,452 -29.30
558–583 567 23 265.00–294.00 $275.69 $1,563 +7.87
620–630 626 9 235.00–282.50 $258.81 $1,620 +13.23
655–670 666 23 225.00–246.00 $243.18 $1,620 +3.18
705–730 716 5 216.00–240.00 $225.90 $1,617 +8.64
800 800 2 193.00 $193.00 $1,544 +14.02
980 980 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,176 -35.00
1030 1030 2 101.00 $101.00 $1,040 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 265.00 $265.00 $888 +85.00
357–398 382 5 285.00–300.00 $294.39 $1,125 +4.39
418–425 419 14 257.50–290.00 $287.64 $1,205 +8.88
478 478 2 257.00 $257.00 $1,228 -45.50
503–505 503 11 170.00–269.00 $259.97 $1,308 +14.15
553–565 557 5 170.00–253.00 $234.17 $1,304 -2.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333 333 13 422.50 $422.50 $1,407 —
641 641 9 230.00 $230.00 $1,474 —
751 751 4 209.00 $209.00 $1,570 —
815 815 3 161.00 $161.00 $1,312 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,181 —
450–454 453 6 280.00–299.00 $286.30 $1,297 +16.41
516–530 521 5 220.00–285.00 $270.46 $1,409 +5.46
620 620 3 227.50 $227.50 $1,410 —
905 905 1 100.00 $100.00 $905 —
Medium and Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 1 75.00 $75.00 $488 —

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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.