Not enough feeder cattle for a market test. Slaughter cows and bulls sold fully steady. Higher undertones noted for cow/calf pairs. Some areas of the state have been getting moisture and the grass looks good for this time of year. Other areas still remain dry and cattlemen continue to cut head counts to try and survive the drought in their area. First cutting of hay in full swing. Tonnage a little lighter in some areas than last year but the quality of hay is very good. Receipts light due to Torrington Livestock Market updating their auction facilities.
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
Not enough feeder cattle for a market test. Slaughter cows and bulls sold fully steady. Higher undertones noted for cow/calf pairs. Some areas of the state have been getting moisture and the grass looks good for this time of year. Other areas still remain dry and cattlemen continue to cut head counts to try and survive the drought in their area. First cutting of hay in full swing. Tonnage a little lighter in some areas than last year but the quality of hay is very good. Receipts light due to Torrington Livestock Market updating their auction facilities.