Name: Shelby Livestock Auction livestock auction prices — 2026-08-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-08-18

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week slaughter cattle were 2.00 to 4.00 lower, while feeder cattle were 10.00 to 15.00 lower. Trade and demand were moderate with light offerings. Quality of cattle was average.

Weight class

Bulls · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb bulls averaged $324.69/cwt on 27 head, down $18.16 from the prior sale. That ranks 5 of 33 comparable sales and sits −47.34 against this barn's trailing median of $372.03.

Average price

$324.69

▼ 18.16 vs prior sale

27 head · 548 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,779

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$279

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2

$53.02/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−14.46

vs NC average

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	547	344.33	1,882	17thin
Medium and Large 2	550	291.31	1,603	10thin

One grade step is worth $53.02/cwt here — about $279 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

33 sales

Bulls 500–600 lb: high $429.13, low $303.15, median $372.03 across 33 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale27 hd

324.69

—

NC average9 barns · 157 hd

339.15

−14.46

This barn, trailing median33 sales

372.03

−47.34

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt

Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,877	198.69	3,729	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,286	171.46	2,206	5thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	939	147.35	1,384	6thin

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age

Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,215	$3,000	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,252	$2,891	3thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	830	$1,750	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,395	$4,250	1thin

Every lot, as filed

61 lots · USDA AMS · Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange - Shelby, NC

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	855	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	2,522	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	355	485.00/cwt	485.00–485.00	1,722	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	250–300	260	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	1,274	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	350–400	381	474.35/cwt	462.50–485.00	1,807	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	725	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,958	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	484	364.93/cwt	357.50–387.50	1,766	21
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	300–350	323	514.97/cwt	505.00–520.00	1,663	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	414	390.47/cwt	370.00–420.00	1,617	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	200–250	235	540.00/cwt	540.00–540.00	1,269	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	400–450	429	407.47/cwt	390.00–422.50	1,748	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	650–700	680	305.04/cwt	300.00–310.00	2,074	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	790	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,173	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	710	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,166	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	940	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	1,857	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	250–300	270	530.00/cwt	530.00–530.00	1,431	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	665	340.03/cwt	320.00–345.00	2,261	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	564	351.08/cwt	340.00–365.00	1,980	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	375	402.70/cwt	390.00–420.00	1,510	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	333	387.29/cwt	370.00–400.00	1,290	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	450–500	474	371.72/cwt	350.00–390.00	1,762	13
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,252	2,891.21/head	2,600.00–3,500.00	2,891	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	830	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	750–800	773	253.19/cwt	245.00–270.00	1,957	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	600–650	635	337.52/cwt	335.00–340.00	2,143	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	550–600	572	339.01/cwt	315.00–360.00	1,939	8
Bulls	—	—	2,175	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	4,763	1
Bulls	—	—	1,728	188.54/cwt	182.00–201.00	3,258	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,600	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,880	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	939	147.35/cwt	136.00–155.00	1,384	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,208	169.32/cwt	158.00–177.50	2,045	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	500–550	524	349.05/cwt	330.00–372.50	1,829	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	567	383.38/cwt	365.00–390.00	2,174	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	612	362.37/cwt	345.00–387.50	2,218	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	528	378.16/cwt	365.00–392.50	1,997	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	500–550	532	280.31/cwt	265.00–297.50	1,491	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	900–950	945	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,890	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	440	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,540	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	430	345.19/cwt	305.00–365.00	1,484	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	433	408.75/cwt	392.50–427.50	1,770	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	515	348.02/cwt	325.00–367.50	1,792	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	650–700	668	250.19/cwt	235.00–265.00	1,671	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	300–350	340	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,190	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	365	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,351	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	595	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,428	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	300–350	338	409.78/cwt	400.00–420.00	1,385	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	600–650	608	254.84/cwt	240.00–290.00	1,549	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	708	213.74/cwt	210.00–217.50	1,513	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	200–250	215	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	667	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	250–300	285	420.70/cwt	400.00–440.00	1,199	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	750–800	785	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,413	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	450–500	475	332.47/cwt	320.00–350.00	1,579	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	550–600	578	307.81/cwt	280.00–325.00	1,779	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	580	324.87/cwt	320.00–330.00	1,884	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	505	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	1,730	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	400–450	428	370.26/cwt	355.00–385.00	1,585	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,395	4,250.00/head	4,250.00–4,250.00	4,250	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	550–600	582	396.00/cwt	396.00–396.00	2,305	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	476	378.65/cwt	360.00–387.50	1,802	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	700–750	700	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,890	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,215	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	700–750	735	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,470	1

How this sale compares

North Carolina weighted averages

One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every North Carolina auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.

North Carolina feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange - Shelby, NC

Tue Aug 18, 2026

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Raleigh, NC (RA-LS)

Feeder CattleReceipts 203Last week 384Year ago 365

Slaughter CattleReceipts 17Last week 36Year ago 48

Replacement CattleReceipts 6Last week 5Year ago 8

Compared to last week slaughter cattle were 2.00 to 4.00 lower, while feeder cattle were 10.00 to 15.00 lower. Trade and demand were moderate with light offerings. Quality of cattle was average.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	270	530.00	530.00
1	350–400	355	485.00	485.00
3	400–450	433	392.50–427.50	408.75
4	450–500	476	360.00–387.50	378.65
5	500–550	528	365.00–392.50	378.16
6	550–600	567	365.00–390.00	383.38
6	600–650	612	345.00–387.50	362.37
9	650–700	665	320.00–345.00	340.03
1	700–750	725	270.00	270.00
1	850–900	855	295.00	295.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	285	400.00–440.00	420.70
1	400–450	440	350.00	350.00
1	500–550	505	342.50	342.50
2	550–600	580	320.00–330.00	324.87
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
13	550–600	582	396.00	396.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	235	540.00	540.00
1	250–300	260	490.00	490.00
3	300–350	323	505.00–520.00	514.97
6	350–400	381	462.50–485.00	474.35
5	400–450	429	390.00–422.50	407.47
13	450–500	474	350.00–390.00	371.72
9	500–550	524	330.00–372.50	349.05
8	550–600	572	315.00–360.00	339.01
2	600–650	635	335.00–340.00	337.52
2	650–700	680	300.00–310.00	305.04
1	700–750	700	270.00	270.00
3	750–800	773	245.00–270.00	253.19
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	338	400.00–420.00	409.78
2	400–450	428	355.00–385.00	370.26
4	450–500	475	320.00–350.00	332.47
6	500–550	532	265.00–297.50	280.31
4	550–600	578	280.00–325.00	307.81
4	600–650	608	240.00–290.00	254.84
3	650–700	668	235.00–265.00	250.19
1	700–750	735	200.00	200.00
1	750–800	785	180.00	180.00
1	900–950	945	200.00	200.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	333	370.00–400.00	387.29
4	350–400	375	390.00–420.00	402.70
9	400–450	414	370.00–420.00	390.47
21	450–500	484	357.50–387.50	364.93
9	500–550	515	325.00–367.50	348.02
4	550–600	564	340.00–365.00	351.08
1	700–750	710	305.00	305.00
1	750–800	790	275.00	275.00
1	900–950	940	197.50	197.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	215	310.00	310.00
1	300–350	340	350.00	350.00
1	350–400	365	370.00	370.00
4	400–450	430	305.00–365.00	345.19
1	550–600	595	240.00	240.00
2	700–750	708	210.00–217.50	213.74

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,252	2,600.00–3,500.00	2,891.21
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	830	1,750.00	1,750.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,215	3,000.00	3,000.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,395	4,250.00	4,250.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,175	219.00	219.00
2	—	1,728	182.00–201.00	188.54
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,600	180.00	180.00
4	—	1,208	158.00–177.50	169.32
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	939	136.00–155.00	147.35

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.

Feeder Cattle — prices, barns, and planning

Fed Cattle — the cash market and what quality pays

Beef & Retail — from the box to the grocery shelf

Feed & Hay — the cost side, cash not futures

Cows & Bred Stock — the rebuild market

More

Shelby Livestock Auction

Reporter comment USDA

Bulls · summary 500–600 lb

What quality paid 500–600 lb

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

How it compared 500–600 lb

Slaughter cattle

Replacement cattle Per head

Every lot, as filed

How this sale compares

Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange - Shelby, NC

Feeder Cattle

Replacement Cattle

Slaughter Cattle