light 5-weight M&L 1 steers$292.00/cwt≈ $1,591/hd at 545 lb · 33 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers$239.00/cwt≈ $2,330/hd at 975 lb · 31 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers$264.00/cwt≈ $1,661/hd at 629 lb · 26 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,184
1,075
2,243
Feeder cattle
347
—
1,499
Slaughter cattle
456
675
728
Replacement cattle
381
400
16
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week: No comparable sales on feeder steers and heifers. Slaughter cows sold 3.00 to 6.00 higher and slaughter bulls sold steady. Demand was good for the short run of cattle at both reporting auctions. Rain showers continue across most of the state with some areas receiving damaging storms with large hail. Most hay producers are now done with first cutting of alfalfa with some starting on second cutting. There are several tons of poor-quality alfalfa across the state due to excessive rain during harvest. At least there is feed in the local trade areas to sell or feed instead of having to ship in tons of hay from out of state.
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: No comparable sales on feeder steers and heifers. Slaughter cows sold 3.00 to 6.00 higher and slaughter bulls sold steady. Demand was good for the short run of cattle at both reporting auctions. Rain showers continue across most of the state with some areas receiving damaging storms with large hail. Most hay producers are now done with first cutting of alfalfa with some starting on second cutting. There are several tons of poor-quality alfalfa across the state due to excessive rain during harvest. At least there is feed in the local trade areas to sell or feed instead of having to ship in tons of hay from out of state.