Cattle Market Pulse

Volunteer Stockyards Market Report

Greeneville, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, February 18, 2023

431 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Volunteer Stockyards report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $185.35/cwt +23.62 vs last sale · ≈ $879/hd at 474 lb · 18 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $178.13/cwt +6.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,209/hd at 678 lb · 15 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $154.72/cwt -1.04 vs last sale · ≈ $964/hd at 623 lb · 14 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 431 538 633
Feeder cattle 272 365 443
Slaughter cattle 92 157 154
Replacement cattle 67 16 36

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder heifers weighing up to 550 lbs. sharply higher, with those weighing over 550 lbs. 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Feeder bulls weighing up to 550 lbs. sharply higher and those over 550 lbs. 3.00 to 4.00 higher. No comparisons available for feeder steers due to limited comparable receipts, however, a sharply higher undertone was noted for those weighing up to 500 lbs. Strong demand and buyer activity was noted for feeder classes. Regarding slaughter classes- breaker cows 1.00 to 5.00 higher, with boning cows and bulls 1.00 to 2.00 higher, and lean cows mostly steady.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 226.00 $226.00 $655 —
300 300 1 215.00 $215.00 $645 —
360 360 1 220.00 $220.00 $792 +27.55
405–440 418 3 212.50–227.50 $219.82 $919 +39.06
430 fancy 430 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,010 —
465 465 2 212.00 $212.00 $986 +30.33
525 525 1 190.00 $190.00 $998 -2.25
530 fancy 530 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,134 —
530–546 value added 543 5 197.00 $197.00 $1,070 —
570–585 value added 574 4 188.00–191.00 $188.76 $1,083 —
587 587 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,057 -5.26
628 628 3 180.50 $180.50 $1,134 -3.03
668–673 value added 671 11 182.00–184.00 $182.91 $1,227 —
699 699 4 165.00 $165.00 $1,153 -7.00
780 780 1 141.00 $141.00 $1,100 —
830 830 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,253 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–340 322 10 170.00–188.00 $182.05 $586 +17.05
365–395 387 6 180.00–190.00 $184.18 $713 +24.05
410–435 427 7 168.00–182.00 $177.37 $757 +11.24
455–497 474 18 184.00–188.00 $185.35 $879 +35.35
500–530 520 9 160.00–176.00 $167.20 $869 +8.00
558–580 565 3 158.00 $158.00 $893 +24.00
570–595 580 4 143.00–150.00 $146.54 $850 -15.01
608–615 value added 610 3 162.00–164.00 $162.67 $992 —
607–645 627 11 145.00–159.00 $152.55 $956 -3.21
670–685 678 3 146.00–162.00 $152.05 $1,031 -11.32
730 730 1 156.00 $156.00 $1,139 +2.65

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–310 309 5 220.00–234.00 $231.24 $715 +44.10
375–398 386 9 201.00–221.00 $213.55 $824 +28.36
400–435 413 4 207.00–212.00 $209.07 $863 +26.19
460–495 478 2 185.00–205.00 $195.37 $934 +15.48
500 fancy 500 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,038 +19.50
505–545 533 9 179.00–197.00 $188.91 $1,007 +12.07
545 545 1 165.00 $165.00 $899 -11.84
550–585 575 6 176.00–184.00 $181.83 $1,046 +9.31
600–605 603 2 160.00–178.00 $168.96 $1,019 +4.39
700 fancy 700 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,099 —
735–745 740 2 136.00–142.00 $138.98 $1,028 +0.18
755 755 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,087 —
895 895 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,164 +8.00
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 187.50 $187.50 $562 —
370 370 1 180.00 $180.00 $666 +32.50
410 410 1 192.50 $192.50 $789 +37.50
630–635 633 2 141.00–155.00 $147.97 $937 —
660–690 675 2 146.00 $146.00 $986 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
2250 2250 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)N/A 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1460 1340 75-80% 2 98.00–99.00 $98.46 $1,319 —
1110–1830 1426 75-80% 34 83.00–97.00 $91.03 $1,298 +3.33
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890 890 80-85% 1 75.00 $75.00 $668 —
980–1285 1128 80-85% 13 80.00–91.00 $84.54 $954 +0.59
1145–1305 1237 80-85% 5 92.00–95.00 $93.57 $1,157 -1.02
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015 1015 85-90% 1 67.00 $67.00 $680 -8.25
880–1175 1028 85-90% 7 71.00–79.00 $76.58 $787 +1.33

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1385–1950 1705 8 105.00–116.00 $109.48 $1,867 -13.76
1780 1780 1 128.00 $128.00 $2,278 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 790.00–830.00 $810.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,200.00–1,500.00 $1,292.14
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,000.00–1,175.00 $1,105.00
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,150.00–1,175.00 $1,162.50
— — Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,110.00 $1,105.00
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,000.00–1,275.00 $1,150.00
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 750.00–950.00 $862.50
— — Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 975.00–1,000.00 $987.50
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 875.00 $875.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,160.00–1,200.00 $1,180.00
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,250.00–1,300.00 $1,275.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,450.00–1,610.00 $1,530.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,275.00–1,425.00 $1,350.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,875.00 $1,875.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,500.00–1,575.00 $1,525.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,260.00 $1,260.00 —

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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.