light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers$204.48/cwt+10.77 vs last sale · ≈ $1,063/hd at 520 lb · 820 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$224.63/cwt+2.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,182/hd at 526 lb · 613 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers$202.11/cwt+8.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,275/hd at 631 lb · 561 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
9,811
7,398
9,582
Feeder cattle
6,736
4,873
5,723
Slaughter cattle
1,275
1,886
1,599
Replacement cattle
1,800
639
2,260
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week steers under 500 lbs sold unevenly steady, 500 to 700 lbs sold 3.00 to 10.00 higher, 700 to 800 lbs sold 2.00 higher and over 900 lbs sold sharply higher on a thin test. Heifers under 400 lbs sold sharply higher, 400 to 600 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher and over 600 lbs unevenly steady. Slaughter and feeder cows traded mostly steady with a few instances 1.00 lower. Limited test of slaughter bulls traded steady. Demand was moderate to good throughout the week. Some normal wintery weather across the region. Cattlemen continue to reduce herd size due to high cost of winter feed. Most of the bred cows sold are going to out of state producers.
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 steers under 500 lbs sold unevenly steady, 500 to 700 lbs sold 3.00 to 10.00 higher, 700 to 800 lbs sold 2.00 higher and over 900 lbs sold sharply higher on a thin test. Heifers under 400 lbs sold sharply higher, 400 to 600 lbs 5.00 to 10.00 higher and over 600 lbs unevenly steady. Slaughter and feeder cows traded mostly steady with a few instances 1.00 lower. Limited test of slaughter bulls traded steady. Demand was moderate to good throughout the week. Some normal wintery weather across the region. Cattlemen continue to reduce herd size due to high cost of winter feed. Most of the bred cows sold are going to out of state producers.