light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$134.94/cwt-0.64 vs last sale · ≈ $970/hd at 719 lb · 186 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$128.20/cwt+1.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,052/hd at 820 lb · 148 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$127.18/cwt-5.04 vs last sale · ≈ $983/hd at 773 lb · 119 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
3,328
3,237
2,940
Feeder cattle
1,214
1,633
1,890
Slaughter cattle
801
921
630
Replacement cattle
1,313
683
420
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week fly-weight steers sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher on a thin test. All other weights of steers sold unevenly steady. Light weight heifers sold steady to 2.00 higher, 500 lbs sold 3.00 higher, 600 to 800 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 lower and over 800 lbs fully steady. Slaughter cows sold steady except lean cows and slaughter bull sold 2.00 higher. Not enough comparable bred cows and pairs last week for a market comparison. Demand was moderate to good throughout the week. With most areas of the state dry, ranch managers continue to liquidate some of their cow herds and pairs. Spotty rain showers have been reported in Wyoming, but most grazing areas are still short and stressed. Next release date will be Tuesday June, 1 due to the Memorial Day Holiday.
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last week fly-weight steers sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher on a thin test. All other weights of steers sold unevenly steady. Light weight heifers sold steady to 2.00 higher, 500 lbs sold 3.00 higher, 600 to 800 lbs 2.00 to 3.00 lower and over 800 lbs fully steady. Slaughter cows sold steady except lean cows and slaughter bull sold 2.00 higher. Not enough comparable bred cows and pairs last week for a market comparison. Demand was moderate to good throughout the week. With most areas of the state dry, ranch managers continue to liquidate some of their cow herds and pairs. Spotty rain showers have been reported in Wyoming, but most grazing areas are still short and stressed. Next release date will be Tuesday June, 1 due to the Memorial Day Holiday.