Name: Smithfield Livestock Auction livestock auction prices — 2026-03-05
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-03-05

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week, slaughter cattle were 4.00 to 8.00 lower. Feeder cattle were mostly steady. Demand was good; market activity and buyer interest were active. Offering of cattle were moderate. Cattle quality was average.

Weight class

Bulls · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb bulls averaged $414.25/cwt on 25 head, up $25.67 from the prior sale (only 10 head in that comparison). That ranks 25 of 27 comparable sales and sits +35.98 against this barn's trailing median of $378.27.

Average price

$414.25

▲ 25.67 vs prior sale

25 head · 541 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,241

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$938

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Small 1

$181.87/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+21.35

vs NC average

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	538	431.87	2,323	22
Medium 1	546	355.00	1,938	1thin
Medium 2	590	250.00	1,475	1thin
Small 1	554	250.00	1,385	1thin

One grade step is worth $181.87/cwt here — about $938 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

27 sales

Bulls 500–600 lb: high $443.59, low $309.66, median $378.27 across 27 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 sale25 hd

414.25

—

NC average8 barns · 246 hd

392.90

+21.35

This barn, trailing median27 sales

378.27

+35.98

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	—	Average	1,736	189.99	3,298	7thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,465	156.27	2,289	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,232	151.10	1,862	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,016	112.10	1,139	30

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
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	894	$2,400	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	914	$2,125	1thin

Every lot, as filed

104 lots · USDA AMS · Powell Livestock Market - Smithfield, 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
Stock Cows	Medium 1-2	—	832	178.88/cwt	170.00–187.50	1,488	2
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	950	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	2,161	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Small 1-2	—	894	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Small 1-2	—	914	2,125.00/head	2,125.00–2,125.00	2,125	1
Stock Cows	Small 1-2	—	650	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,105	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	200–250	228	452.41/cwt	450.00–455.00	1,031	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	924	241.20/cwt	220.00–262.50	2,229	2
Heifers	Medium 1	400–450	400	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,600	1
Heifers	Medium 1	600–650	600	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,560	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	350–400	379	520.00/cwt	520.00–520.00	1,971	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	517	487.57/cwt	485.00–490.00	2,521	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	620	327.51/cwt	320.00–340.00	2,031	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	666	309.84/cwt	270.00–330.00	2,064	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	328	431.30/cwt	400.00–475.00	1,415	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	868	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	2,127	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	400–450	410	479.38/cwt	472.50–490.00	1,965	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	500–550	502	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	2,108	7
Heifers	Small 1	400–450	436	314.59/cwt	300.00–330.00	1,372	2
Heifers	Small 1	250–300	278	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	862	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	709	278.45/cwt	260.00–290.00	1,974	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	250–300	284	457.14/cwt	420.00–485.00	1,298	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	567	348.27/cwt	340.00–365.00	1,975	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	522	335.08/cwt	330.00–340.00	1,749	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	378	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,474	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	430	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,677	1
Heifers	Small 1	350–400	368	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,306	1
Heifers	Medium 1	350–400	364	380.11/cwt	370.00–390.00	1,384	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	468	445.55/cwt	410.00–465.00	2,085	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	423	458.82/cwt	400.00–480.00	1,941	18
Heifers	Small 1	450–500	480	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,296	1
Heifers	Small 1	550–600	566	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,217	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	250–300	284	495.00/cwt	495.00–495.00	1,406	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	427	494.87/cwt	480.00–505.00	2,113	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	450–500	487	472.61/cwt	465.00–480.00	2,302	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	782	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,916	1
Heifers	Medium 1	650–700	670	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,809	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	634	260.06/cwt	250.00–270.00	1,649	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	450–500	479	509.27/cwt	485.00–519.00	2,439	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	600–650	602	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	2,528	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	500–550	510	502.50/cwt	502.50–502.50	2,563	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	800–850	830	237.50/cwt	237.50–237.50	1,971	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	750–800	762	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,438	1
Heifers	Medium 1	200–250	232	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	951	1
Steers	Medium 1	450–500	496	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,984	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	342	455.00/cwt	455.00–455.00	1,556	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	689	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,549	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	820	322.47/cwt	305.00–340.00	2,644	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	480	475.18/cwt	462.50–505.00	2,281	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	567	410.05/cwt	400.00–415.00	2,325	3
Steers	Medium 1	400–450	434	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,736	2
Steers	Medium 1	600–650	642	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,926	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	350–400	364	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,456	2
Bulls	Medium 2	300–350	332	377.38/cwt	375.00–380.00	1,253	2
Bulls	Medium 2	550–600	590	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,475	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Value Added	400–450	417	515.00/cwt	515.00–515.00	2,148	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	600–650	637	285.05/cwt	275.00–295.00	1,816	2
Bulls	Medium 1Fleshy	350–400	376	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,335	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,034	127.13/cwt	120.00–145.00	1,315	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	924	78.74/cwt	70.00–87.50	728	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,454	158.15/cwt	147.50–165.00	2,300	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,193	169.68/cwt	167.00–172.50	2,024	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,238	148.44/cwt	140.00–160.00	1,838	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,071	108.46/cwt	100.00–114.00	1,162	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,618	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	2,103	1
Bulls	—	—	1,759	188.33/cwt	170.00–200.00	3,313	4
Bulls	—	—	1,964	212.04/cwt	209.00–215.00	4,164	2
Bulls	—	—	1,186	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	1,809	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,036	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	1,891	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	890	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,691	1
Stock Cows	Small 1-2	—	747	167.15/cwt	155.00–180.00	1,249	2
Bulls	Medium 1	400–450	415	400.16/cwt	395.00–405.00	1,661	2
Bulls	Small 1	300–350	346	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,194	1
Bulls	Small 1	250–300	268	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	898	1
Bulls	Small 1	400–450	412	352.55/cwt	350.00–355.00	1,453	2
Bulls	Small 1	350–400	358	351.32/cwt	345.00–357.50	1,258	2
Bulls	Medium 1	600–650	618	288.32/cwt	270.00–305.00	1,782	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	700–750	715	307.42/cwt	290.00–315.00	2,198	4
Bulls	Small 1	550–600	554	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,385	1
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	450–500	484	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,452	1
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	300–350	344	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,221	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	372	439.51/cwt	400.00–485.00	1,635	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	519	381.48/cwt	350.00–415.00	1,980	14
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	400–450	432	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,944	1
Bulls	Medium 1	300–350	318	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	1,256	1
Bulls	Medium 1	450–500	474	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,801	1
Heifers	Medium 1	550–600	573	296.86/cwt	280.00–315.00	1,701	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	300–350	348	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,322	1
Bulls	Medium 1	750–800	758	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,895	1
Bulls	Medium 1	650–700	688	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,720	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	200–250	225	482.87/cwt	450.00–535.00	1,086	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	800–850	806	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	2,297	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	650–700	656	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,165	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	750–800	774	268.67/cwt	237.50–300.00	2,080	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	550–600	561	427.68/cwt	385.00–460.00	2,399	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	250–300	265	508.19/cwt	475.00–560.00	1,347	6
Bulls	Medium 1	350–400	368	414.32/cwt	380.00–430.00	1,525	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	600–650	619	352.67/cwt	310.00–420.00	2,183	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	500–550	527	433.83/cwt	380.00–470.00	2,286	15
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	400–450	432	488.56/cwt	450.00–515.00	2,111	17
Bulls	Medium 1	500–550	546	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,938	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	450–500	469	471.66/cwt	405.00–505.00	2,212	18
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	900–950	942	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	2,496	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	300–350	320	479.89/cwt	450.00–532.50	1,536	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	350–400	381	474.44/cwt	390.00–500.00	1,808	11

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 →

Powell Livestock Market - Smithfield, NC

Thu Mar 5, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 386Last week 301Year ago 205

Slaughter CattleReceipts 72Last week 27Year ago 40

Replacement CattleReceipts 10Last week 5Year ago 0

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	832	170.00–187.50	178.88
Stock Cows — Small 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	650	170.00	170.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	747	155.00–180.00	167.15
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,036	182.50	182.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	890	190.00	190.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	950	227.50	227.50
Cow-Calf Pairs — Small 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	894	2,400.00	2,400.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	1	—	914	2,125.00	2,125.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	200–250	228	450.00–455.00	452.41
6	250–300	284	420.00–485.00	457.14
9	300–350	328	400.00–475.00	431.30
13	350–400	372	400.00–485.00	439.51
18	400–450	423	400.00–480.00	458.82
15	450–500	468	410.00–465.00	445.55
14	500–550	519	350.00–415.00	381.48
6	550–600	567	340.00–365.00	348.27
6	600–650	620	320.00–340.00	327.51
7	650–700	666	270.00–330.00	309.84
3	700–750	709	260.00–290.00	278.45
1	750–800	782	245.00	245.00
1	850–900	868	245.00	245.00
2	900–950	924	220.00–262.50	241.20
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	232	410.00	410.00
2	350–400	364	370.00–390.00	380.11
1	400–450	400	400.00	400.00
2	550–600	573	280.00–315.00	296.86
1	600–650	600	260.00	260.00
1	650–700	670	270.00	270.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	410	472.50–490.00	479.38
2	450–500	487	465.00–480.00	472.61
7	500–550	502	420.00	420.00
Heifers — Small 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	278	310.00	310.00
1	350–400	368	355.00	355.00
2	400–450	436	300.00–330.00	314.59
1	450–500	480	270.00	270.00
1	550–600	566	215.00	215.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	348	380.00	380.00
1	350–400	378	390.00	390.00
1	400–450	430	390.00	390.00
2	500–550	522	330.00–340.00	335.08
2	600–650	634	250.00–270.00	260.06
Heifers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	344	355.00	355.00
1	450–500	484	300.00	300.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	379	520.00	520.00
7	450–500	479	485.00–519.00	509.27
2	500–550	510	502.50	502.50
5	600–650	602	420.00	420.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	284	495.00	495.00
1	300–350	342	455.00	455.00
6	400–450	427	480.00–505.00	494.87
4	450–500	480	462.50–505.00	475.18
2	500–550	517	485.00–490.00	487.57
3	550–600	567	400.00–415.00	410.05
5	650–700	689	370.00	370.00
4	800–850	820	305.00–340.00	322.47
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	750–800	762	320.00	320.00
1	800–850	830	237.50	237.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	434	400.00	400.00
1	450–500	496	400.00	400.00
1	600–650	642	300.00	300.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	364	400.00	400.00
1	400–450	432	450.00	450.00
2	600–650	637	275.00–295.00	285.05
Bulls — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	332	375.00–380.00	377.38
1	550–600	590	250.00	250.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	417	515.00	515.00
Bulls — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	376	355.00	355.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	318	395.00	395.00
4	350–400	368	380.00–430.00	414.32
2	400–450	415	395.00–405.00	400.16
1	450–500	474	380.00	380.00
1	500–550	546	355.00	355.00
3	600–650	618	270.00–305.00	288.32
1	650–700	688	250.00	250.00
1	750–800	758	250.00	250.00
Bulls — Small 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	268	335.00	335.00
1	300–350	346	345.00	345.00
2	350–400	358	345.00–357.50	351.32
2	400–450	412	350.00–355.00	352.55
1	550–600	554	250.00	250.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	200–250	225	450.00–535.00	482.87
6	250–300	265	475.00–560.00	508.19
9	300–350	320	450.00–532.50	479.89
11	350–400	381	390.00–500.00	474.44
17	400–450	432	450.00–515.00	488.56
18	450–500	469	405.00–505.00	471.66
15	500–550	527	380.00–470.00	433.83
7	550–600	561	385.00–460.00	427.68
8	600–650	619	310.00–420.00	352.67
2	650–700	656	330.00	330.00
4	700–750	715	290.00–315.00	307.42
2	750–800	774	237.50–300.00	268.67
1	800–850	806	285.00	285.00
2	900–950	942	265.00	265.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,034	120.00–145.00	127.13
7	—	924	70.00–87.50	78.74
6	—	1,071	100.00–114.00	108.46
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,454	147.50–165.00	158.15
1	—	1,618	130.00	130.00
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,193	167.00–172.50	169.68
14	—	1,238	140.00–160.00	148.44
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,759	170.00–200.00	188.33
2	—	1,964	209.00–215.00	212.04
1	—	1,186	152.50	152.50

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

Smithfield 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

Powell Livestock Market - Smithfield, NC

Replacement Cattle

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle