Compared to last week, not enough feeder cattle for a market comparison. Slaughter and feeding cows sold 5.00 to 7.00 higher and bulls sold 10.00 higher. Bred cows and bred heifers sold 500.00 to 1000.00 per head more and cow and heifers pairs sold with a higher undertone. Demand was good. With drought conditions prevailing across the state ranchers are starting to slowly decrease herd numbers and are selling pairs and bred cattle. They are hoping they won't have to have a complete dispersion nor does the agriculture industry want that. Sharply lower beef cattle numbers in a large area is putting a squeeze on the protein market in the USA already. Irrigation water concerns continue to pop up in weekly conversations with contacts. Sounds like several water districts will be limiting the days of water this growing season.
→ Feeder cattle: not enough feeder cattle for a market comparison
▲ Replacement cows: Bred cows and bred heifers sold 500.00 to 1000.00 per head more and cow and heifers pairs sold with a higher undertone
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, not enough feeder cattle for a market comparison. Slaughter and feeding cows sold 5.00 to 7.00 higher and bulls sold 10.00 higher. Bred cows and bred heifers sold 500.00 to 1000.00 per head more and cow and heifers pairs sold with a higher undertone. Demand was good. With drought conditions prevailing across the state ranchers are starting to slowly decrease herd numbers and are selling pairs and bred cattle. They are hoping they won't have to have a complete dispersion nor does the agriculture industry want that. Sharply lower beef cattle numbers in a large area is putting a squeeze on the protein market in the USA already. Irrigation water concerns continue to pop up in weekly conversations with contacts. Sounds like several water districts will be limiting the days of water this growing season.