Cattle Market Pulse

Volunteer Stockyards Market Report

Greeneville, Tennessee · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Saturday, December 14, 2024

597 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $270.10/cwt -4.43 vs last sale · ≈ $1,280/hd at 474 lb · 30 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 bulls $268.94/cwt +7.35 vs last sale · ≈ $1,525/hd at 567 lb · 24 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $245.20/cwt -4.80 vs last sale · ≈ $1,402/hd at 572 lb · 16 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 597 385 597
Feeder cattle 435 289 463
Slaughter cattle 112 81 120
Replacement cattle 50 15 14

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder heifers measuring 6.00 higher overall with feeder bulls 4.00 higher, and no comparisons available for feeder steers due to limited comparable receipts, but a higher undertone was noted. Slaughter cows gauging 2.00 to 4.00 lower overall with slaughter bulls sharply lower. No sale will be held the next two weeks in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

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
315–335 325 2 362.50–365.00 $363.79 $1,182 —
360–390 375 2 335.00–347.50 $341.50 $1,281 —
405–410 408 2 320.00–340.00 $330.06 $1,347 -2.64
415 415 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,214 -40.20
455–495 474 4 317.50–335.00 $328.54 $1,557 +5.89
505 505 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,389 -27.34
505–523 514 8 305.00–330.00 $320.06 $1,645 +17.72
560 560 1 324.00 $324.00 $1,814 +54.29
610–640 623 10 255.00–270.00 $261.80 $1,631 -1.43
715–735 725 2 236.00–250.00 $242.90 $1,761 +12.81
785 785 1 244.00 $244.00 $1,915 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 315.00 $315.00 $945 —
445 445 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,302 —
545 545 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,472 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–225 220 2 332.50–355.00 $343.49 $756 —
275–295 285 2 290.00–315.00 $302.06 $861 —
305–320 fancy 313 2 325.00–332.50 $328.66 $1,029 —
300–345 330 11 280.00–312.50 $293.21 $968 +4.52
350–390 372 9 275.00–292.50 $282.93 $1,052 +8.63
355–385 fancy 372 3 305.00–310.00 $308.32 $1,147 +10.82
355–395 375 2 260.00–265.00 $262.37 $984 -11.93
415–445 428 12 257.50–285.00 $266.93 $1,142 -7.89
425–445 fancy 432 3 290.00–295.00 $291.72 $1,260 —
453–495 473 27 260.00–284.00 $272.33 $1,288 -0.10
480–485 483 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,208 -22.43
515 fancy 515 1 280.00 $280.00 $1,442 —
500–545 527 11 247.50–267.50 $255.61 $1,347 -1.75
535 535 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,284 -17.36
550–590 571 13 242.50–255.00 $249.13 $1,423 -0.87
550–590 575 3 225.00–235.00 $228.19 $1,312 -21.81
600 600 5 227.50–241.00 $237.10 $1,423 +10.14
635 635 1 218.00 $218.00 $1,384 -8.96
660–665 663 2 217.00–227.50 $222.27 $1,474 +5.27
700–720 710 4 200.00–220.00 $205.43 $1,459 -15.84
710–730 720 2 185.00–187.50 $186.23 $1,341 -35.04
760–790 774 4 202.50–208.00 $205.87 $1,593 -4.13
800–845 823 2 192.50–210.00 $201.01 $1,654 +12.01
870–895 883 2 192.50–197.50 $194.96 $1,721 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,038 —
465–490 478 2 247.50–250.00 $248.72 $1,189 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–241 235 5 365.00–385.00 $381.42 $896 —
280–295 290 5 332.50–380.00 $354.82 $1,029 —
300–340 318 5 332.50–355.00 $345.35 $1,098 -8.76
350–390 372 8 317.50–350.00 $333.36 $1,240 +11.22
400 400 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,300 +10.83
410–438 424 6 322.50–335.00 $330.92 $1,403 +16.75
450–490 471 9 300.00–330.00 $316.08 $1,489 +13.46
475 475 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,378 -12.62
480 fancy 480 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,632 +2.00
510 fancy 510 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,581 —
505–545 527 10 275.00–302.50 $288.50 $1,520 +5.38
545 545 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,458 -15.62
550–590 567 24 242.50–315.00 $268.94 $1,525 +7.35
600–645 622 10 230.00–245.00 $238.95 $1,486 -2.21
650 650 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,414 -18.01
650–680 667 6 222.50–243.00 $230.38 $1,537 -5.13
705–745 728 6 202.50–220.00 $211.26 $1,538 —
765–770 768 2 197.50–200.00 $198.75 $1,526 -12.63
810–840 825 2 187.50–193.00 $190.20 $1,569 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 312.50 $312.50 $1,062 -12.50
485–490 488 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,318 —
500–515 508 2 230.00–232.50 $231.27 $1,175 —
595 595 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,488 +30.00
655 655 1 211.00 $211.00 $1,382 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965 965 80-85% 1 99.00 $99.00 $955 —
960–1390 1111 80-85% 24 105.00–119.00 $112.47 $1,250 —
985–1275 1141 80-85% 8 122.00–128.00 $124.90 $1,425 —
1075–1295 1169 80-85% 7 116.00–128.00 $121.18 $1,417 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1470 1361 75-80% 6 115.00–127.00 $121.04 $1,647 —
1235–1700 1418 75-80% 10 108.00–118.00 $113.33 $1,607 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765–1020 955 85-90% 5 93.00–106.00 $101.34 $968 —
995 995 85-90% 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,144 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985–1195 1098 4 110.00–119.00 $112.15 $1,231 —
1260–1885 1573 2 105.00–115.00 $110.99 $1,746 -10.06
1710 1710 1 144.00 $144.00 $2,462 —
1365–2170 1780 12 119.00–135.00 $125.36 $2,231 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–1300 1083 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,450.00–1,700.00 $1,541.67

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1000 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1050–1100 1075 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 975.00–1,100.00 $1,037.50
1000–1200 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,600.00–2,400.00 $2,000.00
1050–1300 1175 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,575.00–1,650.00 $1,612.50
900–1450 1194 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,375.00–2,300.00 $1,721.88
950–1500 1225 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,300.00–1,400.00 $1,350.00
1450–1500 1475 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,175.00–2,325.00 $2,250.00
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
750 750 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
900 900 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850 850 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
950–1000 975 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,400.00–1,450.00 $1,425.00
1100–1300 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,675.00 $1,387.50
1250 1250 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00

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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
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,325.00 $3,325.00 —
— — Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,075.00–2,125.00 $2,100.00 —
— — Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —
— — Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,325.00 $2,325.00 —
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
— — Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000 1000 80-85% 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,040 —

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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.