Name: Saluda Livestock Exchange livestock auction prices — 2026-09-28
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-09-28

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers sharply higher, feeder heifers 10.00 higher, feeder bulls steady, slaughter cows 5.00 lower, slaughter bulls 6.00 lower. Heavy offering of plain to average quality cattle with active buyer participation.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $312.85/cwt on 93 head, down $9.88 from the prior sale. That ranks 4 of 32 comparable sales and sits −54.71 against this barn's trailing median of $367.55.

Average price

$312.85

▼ 9.88 vs prior sale

93 head · 548 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,715

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$211

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

$33.77/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.44

vs SC average

−40.11 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	550	321.93	1,772	68
Medium and Large 2	542	288.16	1,561	25

One grade step is worth $33.77/cwt here — about $211 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

32 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $401.14, low $294.82, median $367.55 across 32 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 sale93 hd

312.85

—

SC average5 barns · 209 hd

317.29

−4.44

National average179 barns · 12,503 hd

352.96

−40.11

This barn, trailing median32 sales

367.55

−54.71

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	—	Low	1,538	169.82	2,613	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,472	147.98	2,178	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,233	146.86	1,811	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,093	128.36	1,403	17

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,298	$2,962	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,185	$2,550	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,353	$2,273	4thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,070	$2,000	1thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	933	$2,828	2thin
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	995	$2,500	1thin
Bred Heifers	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	(<2 yrs)	835	$2,300	1thin
Bulls	N/A	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,595	$2,975	1thin
Bulls	N/A	(<2 yrs)	928	$2,382	3thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	855	$2,900	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	833	$2,538	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,390	$2,375	1thin
Stock Cows	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,100	$2,547	2thin
Stock Cows	Open	(<2 yrs)	975	$2,291	1thin
Stock Cows	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,070	$1,658	1thin

Every lot, as filed

114 lots · USDA AMS · Saluda Livestock Exchange - Saluda, SC

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
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	835	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	1,115	1,825.00/head	1,825.00–1,825.00	1,825	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	300–350	334	395.66/cwt	380.00–410.00	1,322	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	400–450	430	396.44/cwt	385.00–410.00	1,705	29
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	600–650	621	321.03/cwt	310.00–340.00	1,994	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Fleshy	450–500	485	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,455	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	1,070	1,658.00/head	1,658.00–1,658.00	1,658	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	350–400	373	392.66/cwt	370.00–405.00	1,465	12
Steers	Medium and Large 2Fleshy	500–550	519	297.45/cwt	290.00–300.00	1,544	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	300–350	338	442.94/cwt	420.00–470.00	1,497	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	550–600	568	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,158	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	1,070	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	300–350	305	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,190	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	722	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	2,058	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	526	327.83/cwt	310.00–340.00	1,724	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	850–900	875	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	2,188	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	800–850	830	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	2,054	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	—	1,020	1,810.67/head	1,776.00–1,845.00	1,811	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	685	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,918	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	485	374.97/cwt	360.00–385.00	1,819	11
Steers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	623	306.82/cwt	300.00–312.50	1,911	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	700–750	728	247.01/cwt	235.00–270.00	1,798	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	500–550	521	325.83/cwt	320.00–335.00	1,698	16
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	400–450	420	359.42/cwt	340.00–380.00	1,510	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	372	369.24/cwt	350.00–385.00	1,374	12
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	600–650	630	285.65/cwt	275.00–300.00	1,800	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	713	246.54/cwt	240.00–260.00	1,758	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	587	337.53/cwt	330.00–340.00	1,981	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	413	383.98/cwt	380.00–385.00	1,586	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2	750–800	790	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	2,054	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	573	282.37/cwt	265.00–300.00	1,618	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	626	287.17/cwt	270.00–295.00	1,798	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	426	342.80/cwt	320.00–355.00	1,460	7
Steers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	363	392.07/cwt	380.00–405.00	1,423	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	462	332.36/cwt	315.00–340.00	1,536	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	527	290.88/cwt	275.00–305.00	1,533	17
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	750–800	763	239.97/cwt	230.00–250.00	1,831	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	950–1000	960	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,160	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	900–950	945	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	2,315	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	678	290.00/cwt	287.50–292.50	1,966	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	200–250	213	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	852	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	250–300	295	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,298	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Small 2	—	855	2,900.00/head	2,900.00–2,900.00	2,900	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Small 3	—	765	2,275.00/head	2,275.00–2,275.00	2,275	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	450–500	475	354.09/cwt	340.00–370.00	1,682	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	550–600	580	318.04/cwt	305.00–330.00	1,845	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	300–350	340	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,156	1
Bulls	—	—	1,515	164.07/cwt	157.00–169.00	2,486	7
Bulls	—	—	1,593	183.24/cwt	180.00–186.00	2,919	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,049	140.04/cwt	136.00–146.00	1,469	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,559	140.02/cwt	134.00–146.00	2,183	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,310	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	2,489	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,107	124.77/cwt	101.00–133.00	1,381	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,384	153.33/cwt	148.00–159.00	2,122	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,211	140.39/cwt	133.00–146.00	1,700	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,267	156.57/cwt	149.00–165.00	1,984	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 3	300–350	345	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,190	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 3	450–500	470	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,457	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 3	400–450	423	297.63/cwt	285.00–310.00	1,259	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 3	350–400	395	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,284	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,298	2,961.90/head	2,900.00–3,025.00	2,962	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	975	2,291.00/head	2,291.00–2,291.00	2,291	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	250–300	288	496.78/cwt	470.00–525.00	1,431	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	300–350	304	496.21/cwt	470.00–505.00	1,508	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	650–700	673	281.27/cwt	260.00–295.00	1,893	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 3	450–500	473	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,561	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	900	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	614	331.09/cwt	320.00–335.00	2,033	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,100	2,546.53/head	2,524.00–2,566.00	2,547	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Fancy	450–500	460	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	2,001	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Fancy	300–350	333	495.14/cwt	480.00–505.00	1,649	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,595	2,975.00/head	2,975.00–2,975.00	2,975	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	250–300	273	518.35/cwt	500.00–540.00	1,415	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	660	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,310	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	745	3,525.00/head	3,525.00–3,525.00	3,525	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	700–750	719	285.00/cwt	280.00–290.00	2,049	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Value Added	550–600	567	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,098	14
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,390	2,375.00/head	2,375.00–2,375.00	2,375	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	750–800	765	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,142	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	416	365.55/cwt	360.00–380.00	1,521	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	380	404.86/cwt	390.00–420.00	1,538	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	650–700	677	301.96/cwt	300.00–310.00	2,044	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 2Fleshy	450–500	460	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,495	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Fleshy	400–450	432	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,318	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	350–400	364	420.60/cwt	410.00–440.00	1,531	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	461	348.08/cwt	345.00–355.00	1,605	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	808	287.46/cwt	282.50–290.00	2,323	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	200–250	232	515.14/cwt	500.00–525.00	1,195	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	450–500	470	396.97/cwt	390.00–415.00	1,866	12
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	500–550	532	352.72/cwt	345.00–365.00	1,876	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	569	318.59/cwt	310.00–330.00	1,813	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	612	306.59/cwt	290.00–320.00	1,876	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	521	363.53/cwt	357.50–385.00	1,894	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	710	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	2,059	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	400–450	425	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	1,721	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Value Added	500–550	505	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,717	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	783	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	2,271	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	409	404.98/cwt	390.00–410.00	1,656	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	461	402.63/cwt	390.00–415.00	1,856	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	200–250	225	465.00/cwt	465.00–465.00	1,046	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	550–600	579	342.72/cwt	335.00–345.00	1,984	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	512	328.37/cwt	320.00–335.00	1,681	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	375	428.48/cwt	415.00–440.00	1,607	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,432	2,422.99/head	2,350.00–2,500.00	2,423	3
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	933	2,828.02/head	2,750.00–2,900.00	2,828	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	330	495.00/cwt	495.00–495.00	1,634	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	785	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,198	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	330	442.12/cwt	430.00–455.00	1,459	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	717	303.38/cwt	292.50–310.00	2,175	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,185	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	1
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	995	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	562	351.44/cwt	350.00–360.00	1,975	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	250–300	265	470.00/cwt	470.00–470.00	1,246	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	650	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,950	1

How this sale compares

South Carolina weighted averages

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

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