The market in a line
Mon, Aug 3Choice cutout closed $5.35 higher at $366.73. 7 Kentucky barns reported 488 priced lots.
Feeder steers
Kentucky, week of Aug 3 USDAWeighted across every reported lot, by weight class. Weekly rather than daily — one day's barns are too thin a base for a state figure. Watch the barn count: a weight class carried by one or two barns is a thin figure, not a market.
| Weight | Price | vs prior week | Head | Barns |
|---|
| 300-399 lb | 509.14/cwt | $11.91 higher | 113 | 18 |
| 400-499 lb | 462.07/cwt | $12.30 higher | 237 | 19 |
| 500-599 lb | 424.27/cwt | $13.11 higher | 563 | 20 |
| 600-699 lb | 399.36/cwt | $5.02 lower | 875 | 20 |
| 700-799 lb | 364.62/cwt | $5.79 higher | 755 | 20 |
| 800-899 lb | 349.78/cwt | $17.77 higher | 1,065 | 13 |
Barn by barn, 500–599 lb steers
Same day, same class USDAEvery barn that sold at least 20 head of this class on Mon, Aug 3, weighted by head. Spread of $15.94 between the top and bottom of 3 barns. An average moves with the cattle that showed up as much as with the buyers in the seats — a yard with better grade will average higher on the same demand. This is where the money landed, not a verdict on the barn.
Boxed beef
National · PM close · Aug 3 USDAChoice $366.73, $5.35 higher. Select $344.45, $1.78 lower. The Choice–Select spread stands at $22.28. 85 loads traded.
Fed cattle
National · Negotiated cash, week to date USDA9,171 head traded Jul 28–Aug 3.
| Region | Basis | Price | Head |
|---|
| Iowa-Minnesota | Dressed Delivered | 364.80 | 354 |
| Iowa-Minnesota | Dressed FOB | 365.00 | 70 |
| Iowa-Minnesota | Live Delivered | 235.81 | 1,432 |
| Iowa-Minnesota | Live FOB | 233.48 | 4,067 |
| Kansas | Live FOB | 232.83 | 1,476 |
| Nebraska | Dressed Delivered | 364.51 | 1,620 |
At the Kentucky barns
USDA market reporters, as filed USDACompared to last Monday the feeder market was spotty with an average quality offering. Feeder steers 300-600 lbs and under were mostly steady to 5.00 lower in spots with a limited supply and spotty demand. Yearling steers appeared sharply higher but with a lite test.
Lexington Livestock Auction - Kentucky · Kentucky
Compared to last week; Feeder steers and feeder heifers sold unevenly steady. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady.
Harned Livestock Auction · Kentucky
The small number of feeder calves in last week's offering did not allow for accurate trends but today's quality was much better and demand was much stronger for all classes of feeder calves. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady on a light test.
Cattleman's Livestock Auction - Bowling Green · Kentucky
Cows and bulls
National direct, dressed USDA| Class | Price | Direction | Head |
|---|
| Breaker (75% lean) | 316.11/cwt | $2.66 higher | 421 |
| Boner (85% lean) | 335.01/cwt | $4.76 higher | 1,390 |
| Cutter (90% lean) | 334.67/cwt | $1.99 higher | 2,327 |
| Premium White | 327.87/cwt | $0.35 lower | 1,836 |
| Bull (92% lean) | 375.79/cwt | $0.64 lower | 424 |
Every USDA report carried this date is listed in the archive.