Cattle Market Pulse

Volunteer Stockyards Market Report

Greeneville, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, March 23, 2024

649 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $259.03/cwt +8.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,229/hd at 474 lb · 19 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $305.21/cwt +4.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,299/hd at 426 lb · 17 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $258.21/cwt +6.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,114/hd at 432 lb · 17 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 649 449 687
Feeder cattle 394 274 465
Slaughter cattle 173 155 142
Replacement cattle 82 20 80

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder heifers measuring 4.00 to 5.00 higher overall. No comparisons available for feeder steers and bulls due to limited comparable receipts, however, a higher undertone was noted for bulls. Slaughter cows and bulls gauging 1.00 to 2.00 higher overall. Today's head sale included a herd dispersal of 60+ mostly black bred cows and cow/calf pairs.

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
405–435 423 3 305.00–316.00 $311.12 $1,316 -15.24
450–485 463 4 300.00–310.00 $304.95 $1,412 -1.91
515 515 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,596 +26.02
555 555 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,498 +28.06
605–615 610 2 262.50–270.00 $266.28 $1,624 +26.32
865 value added 865 1 239.00 $239.00 $2,067 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 297.50 $297.50 $952 —
375 375 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,088 —
480 480 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,416 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,336 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–340 326 7 270.00–295.00 $277.96 $906 -20.83
365 fancy 365 1 303.00 $303.00 $1,106 —
355–395 377 15 269.00–297.50 $281.08 $1,060 -7.82
415–430 fancy 425 3 267.50–270.00 $269.16 $1,144 -0.84
400–445 433 14 245.00–262.50 $255.86 $1,108 +6.55
465 fancy 465 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,279 —
453–495 475 18 245.00–267.00 $258.14 $1,226 +8.05
505 505 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,162 -7.17
500–535 519 11 242.50–258.00 $253.02 $1,313 +15.85
555 555 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,235 -12.47
550–565 559 5 234.00–244.00 $238.60 $1,334 +3.63
615–620 616 5 215.00–227.00 $224.58 $1,383 +12.58
642 642 3 201.00 $201.00 $1,290 -11.00
663 663 5 218.50 $218.50 $1,449 +6.86
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 value added 420 2 221.00 $221.00 $928 —
490 490 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,176 —
670 670 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,340 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 338.00 $338.00 $896 +10.11
320–345 337 11 300.00–330.00 $309.17 $1,042 -23.13
355–390 371 8 292.50–322.50 $302.45 $1,122 -15.53
368–395 fancy 377 3 330.00–339.00 $333.14 $1,256 —
400–445 425 11 295.00–314.00 $307.83 $1,308 +6.93
400–445 fancy 427 3 325.00–333.00 $329.20 $1,406 —
410–440 427 3 270.00–275.00 $271.60 $1,160 -29.30
450–465 458 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,260 -25.36
455–490 471 10 285.00–312.50 $301.66 $1,421 +1.30
501 fancy 501 4 315.00 $315.00 $1,578 —
500–548 521 10 275.00–301.00 $288.74 $1,504 +48.74
555–560 fancy 558 2 297.50–305.00 $301.23 $1,681 —
560–595 568 12 270.00–291.00 $283.95 $1,613 +33.18
600–631 626 8 262.50–277.50 $274.44 $1,718 +50.57
650–655 653 2 230.00–240.00 $235.02 $1,535 +12.02
720 fancy 720 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,674 —
705–745 725 2 205.00–223.00 $213.75 $1,550 —
750–785 768 3 209.00–220.00 $216.08 $1,659 +29.72
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 2 285.00–287.50 $286.25 $1,016 —
460–490 475 2 247.50–260.00 $253.95 $1,206 —
580 580 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,421 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 282.50 $282.50 $946 -0.30
385 385 1 272.50 $272.50 $1,049 -15.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–1520 1134 80-85% 42 113.00–136.00 $125.67 $1,425 —
1090–1390 1210 80-85% 8 138.00–148.00 $141.73 $1,715 +31.73
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 75-80% 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,488 —
1145–1850 1412 75-80% 30 122.00–136.00 $129.46 $1,828 —
1285–1615 1458 75-80% 5 139.00–141.00 $140.22 $2,044 +12.44
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760–1170 890 85-90% 9 120.00–149.00 $132.80 $1,182 —
815–995 905 85-90% 2 93.00–96.00 $94.65 $857 -15.70
800–1255 991 85-90% 14 101.00–119.00 $112.81 $1,118 —
1065–1370 1168 85-90% 3 122.00–127.00 $124.26 $1,451 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1225 1142 3 118.00–127.00 $123.20 $1,407 —
1270–2150 1722 22 132.00–163.00 $150.97 $2,600 -9.45
1565–1940 1812 5 166.00–174.00 $170.59 $3,091 +18.89

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 1,025.00–1,250.00 $1,150.00
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00
— — (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,750.00–1,950.00 $1,850.00
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,400.00–2,200.00 $1,650.00
— — Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
— — Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,225.00–2,050.00 $1,550.00
— — Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,400.00–1,725.00 $1,562.50
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,550.00–2,050.00 $1,841.67
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,275.00–1,325.00 $1,300.00
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00

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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)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,175.00–1,925.00 $1,387.50
— — Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
— — Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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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
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,550.00–2,400.00 $2,041.67 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,125.00 $2,125.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,125.00 $2,125.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,600.00–2,325.00 $2,068.75 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 1,475.00–1,825.00 $1,650.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,375.00 $2,375.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760 760 1 124.00 $124.00 $942 —
845 845 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,048 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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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.