Cattle Market Pulse

Walnut Auction Sales Slaughter Cattle Market Report

Walnut, Illinois · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 12, 2024

197 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Walnut Auction Sales Slaughter Cattle report →

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 197 306 135
Slaughter cattle 197 306 135

Compared to last week, slaughter steers and heifers sold 4.00 to 5.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold mixed with Breakers 2.00 lower, Boners 4.00 lower, and Leans 11.00 higher. Slaughter bulls traded steady. Trade was active with moderate to good demand.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1195 1108 3 176.00–186.00 $182.37 $2,021
1120 1120 1 138.00 $138.00 $1,546
1155–1510 1319 13 170.00–188.00 $181.36 $2,392
1305–1570 1482 77 190.00–199.50 $196.73 $2,916 +4.88

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965 965 1 122.50 $122.50 $1,182
935–1035 985 2 165.00–169.00 $167.10 $1,646
1000–1365 1216 14 181.00–188.00 $186.00 $2,262
1140–1480 1350 47 189.00–200.50 $195.53 $2,640 +3.81

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Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1190–1610 1380 75-80% 3 107.00–108.00 $107.68 $1,486
1160–1710 1538 75-80% 13 110.00–115.00 $112.53 $1,731 -1.79
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 85-90% 2 73.00–77.00 $75.00 $870 +9.59
1020–1360 1236 85-90% 7 86.00–96.00 $89.85 $1,111
1290 1290 85-90% 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,264 -4.82
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1525 1381 80-85% 5 103.00–108.00 $105.44 $1,456

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2260–2420 2337 3 130.00–141.00 $134.93 $3,153

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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.