Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock Market Report

Pratt, Kansas · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 5, 2024

4,200 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Winter Livestock report →

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $366.54/cwt +37.80 vs last sale · ≈ $1,931/hd at 527 lb · 452 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $301.81/cwt -0.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,707/hd at 566 lb · 384 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $316.28/cwt +16.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,950/hd at 617 lb · 373 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,200 1,975 3,531
Feeder cattle 3,577 1,178 3,237
Slaughter cattle 466 383 263
Replacement cattle 157 414 31

Market comments — USDA reporter

*** Final Report *** Compared to 2 weeks ago, not enough feeder steers and heifers 700 lb to 975 lb for a market test, however a steady to higher trend was noted. Steer and heifer calves 400 lb to 700 lb sold 10.00 to 20.00 higher, however reputation and thin fleshed calves sold up to 45.00 higher. Demand was good. An outstanding offering of weaned calves. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to 4.00 higher.

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
297 297 4 470.00 $470.00 $1,396 —
312 312 2 442.50 $442.50 $1,381 —
301–336 thin fleshed 327 15 480.00–497.50 $493.20 $1,613 +25.20
351–388 362 10 420.00–430.00 $423.21 $1,532 +15.25
374 thin fleshed 374 34 464.00 $464.00 $1,735 —
416 thin fleshed 416 33 462.50 $462.50 $1,924 —
410–432 unweaned 417 6 357.50–390.00 $368.71 $1,538 —
431–444 439 141 415.00–435.00 $429.31 $1,885 +45.16
450–476 462 76 402.50–425.00 $421.67 $1,948 +89.17
474 unweaned 474 20 370.00 $370.00 $1,754 —
491 thin fleshed 491 106 392.50–400.00 $399.08 $1,959 —
509–545 thin fleshed 521 157 348.00–379.00 $367.57 $1,915 —
519–537 fancy 529 259 364.00–375.50 $371.64 $1,966 —
521–539 unweaned 535 26 327.50–339.00 $330.09 $1,766 —
536 536 10 313.00 $313.00 $1,678 -15.74
555–573 thin fleshed 566 124 338.00–355.00 $351.72 $1,991 —
556–598 593 44 306.00–309.50 $307.83 $1,825 +6.96
610–621 thin fleshed 614 249 305.00–331.50 $325.80 $2,000 —
605–622 fancy 619 35 312.50–313.00 $312.92 $1,937 +11.92
601–646 623 89 284.00–299.00 $290.95 $1,813 +10.45
652 fancy 652 11 296.00 $296.00 $1,930 —
653–687 670 47 271.00–292.00 $278.39 $1,865 -3.37
706–745 725 171 264.00–285.50 $278.67 $2,020 +20.42
754 thin fleshed 754 27 280.50 $280.50 $2,115 —
764 fancy 764 21 275.00 $275.00 $2,101 —
758–777 767 38 264.25–277.00 $268.36 $2,058 +19.49
837–848 842 89 236.50–249.75 $246.97 $2,079 -11.45
861–873 866 37 233.00–247.50 $239.62 $2,075 -1.38
920 920 60 247.50 $247.50 $2,277 +12.50
985 985 2 224.00 $224.00 $2,206 -12.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371 371 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,187 —
495 495 2 289.00 $289.00 $1,431 —
545 545 6 259.00 $259.00 $1,412 —
572–580 577 20 265.00–271.00 $268.92 $1,552 —
630–631 631 16 279.00–281.00 $280.75 $1,772 +39.75
653–682 670 45 256.00–268.00 $264.77 $1,774 —
766 766 12 255.00 $255.00 $1,953 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055 1055 6 229.00 $229.00 $2,416 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
289 thin fleshed 289 22 435.00 $435.00 $1,257 +31.00
320–322 321 7 385.00–390.00 $388.57 $1,247 +26.07
340 thin fleshed 340 64 432.50 $432.50 $1,470 —
365 unweaned 365 2 347.50 $347.50 $1,268 —
368–376 fancy 372 17 385.00–392.00 $388.74 $1,446 —
376–391 382 12 350.00–377.50 $365.78 $1,397 +30.78
384 thin fleshed 384 23 402.50 $402.50 $1,546 —
405–418 fancy 418 50 360.00–380.00 $379.61 $1,587 —
421–447 439 12 325.00–340.00 $334.96 $1,470 +24.70
455–462 thin fleshed 461 119 338.00–350.00 $347.86 $1,604 —
452–497 466 38 310.00–332.00 $326.83 $1,523 +38.71
481–485 unweaned 484 26 309.00–310.00 $309.27 $1,497 —
501 fancy 501 100 327.00 $327.00 $1,638 —
500–528 523 57 297.00–314.00 $303.58 $1,588 +27.81
551–553 fancy 552 118 302.00–305.00 $303.50 $1,675 +21.00
558 thin fleshed 558 76 355.00 $355.00 $1,981 +42.00
550–592 577 190 264.00–295.00 $279.48 $1,613 +12.11
600 thin fleshed 600 59 291.00 $291.00 $1,746 —
601–630 615 71 260.00–276.00 $271.42 $1,669 +8.34
654–696 674 109 244.00–261.00 $257.49 $1,735 —
700–740 721 38 227.00–245.00 $236.09 $1,702 -5.17
780 780 5 223.00 $223.00 $1,739 +6.51
840 840 3 218.00 $218.00 $1,831 —
846 846 4 207.50 $207.50 $1,755 —
856–877 870 20 206.00–228.00 $219.28 $1,908 -1.72
910–930 911 48 214.50–226.00 $225.59 $2,055 +8.59
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1007–1045 1017 8 205.50–215.00 $207.94 $2,115 -7.78
1087–1095 1088 8 201.00–220.00 $217.61 $2,368 +14.33
1101–1123 1112 18 192.00–211.00 $201.41 $2,240 -0.59
1173 1173 4 162.00 $162.00 $1,900 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473 473 4 283.00 $283.00 $1,339 —
520–548 539 11 282.50–290.00 $285.48 $1,539 —
642–648 644 17 238.00–252.00 $242.14 $1,559 +12.14
677 677 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,557 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
437 437 2 311.00 $311.00 $1,359 -30.27
624 624 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,560 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
929–980 939 80-85% 16 110.00–112.00 $111.00 $1,042 —
1020–1716 1226 80-85% 178 110.00–119.00 $115.59 $1,417 +9.97
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195–1330 1260 75-80% 8 130.00–133.00 $131.50 $1,657 +16.59
1083–1640 1342 75-80% 114 120.00–129.00 $123.84 $1,662 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
939 939 85-90% 9 86.00 $86.00 $808 —
1015–1465 1113 85-90% 48 89.00–109.00 $102.56 $1,141 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1610–2110 1791 5 131.00–138.00 $134.08 $2,401 —
1545–2105 1801 7 140.00–149.00 $142.28 $2,562 —
1720–2135 1896 7 151.00–158.50 $154.60 $2,931 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
774–1165 908 (<2 yrs)Open 24 131.00–177.00 $147.90 $1,343

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
942 942 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,810.00 $1,810.00
991 991 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 1,810.00 $1,810.00
1080 1080 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1031–1224 1103 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 1,375.00–1,700.00 $1,510.20
1008–1317 1104 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 52 1,275.00–1,700.00 $1,433.11
1100–1235 1178 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 13 1,750.00–2,350.00 $1,996.86
1180 1180 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1115–1241 1228 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 10 1,250.00–1,750.00 $1,704.62
1177–1475 1276 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,750.00–1,900.00 $1,842.22
1300 1300 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1322 1322 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,025.00 $2,025.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
867 867 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,700.00 $1,700.00
830–1040 935 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,700.00–1,800.00 $1,744.39

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1100 1100 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —

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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.