Compared to last week, feeder cattle were too thinly tested for an accurate market trend. Slaughter cows sold steady to 5.00 higher, while slaughter bulls sold 1.00 higher. Demand was good, with several of the cows returning to feed. Rain continues to cause issues for hay to be harvested and many areas have seen rainfall numbers that total what they normally get for the year within the last month. Many are seeking a window of opportunity to get hay laid down and baled before the next storm hits.
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, feeder cattle were too thinly tested for an accurate market trend. Slaughter cows sold steady to 5.00 higher, while slaughter bulls sold 1.00 higher. Demand was good, with several of the cows returning to feed. Rain continues to cause issues for hay to be harvested and many areas have seen rainfall numbers that total what they normally get for the year within the last month. Many are seeking a window of opportunity to get hay laid down and baled before the next storm hits.