Harward Brothers Livestock Market market report — October 19, 2026

Turnersburg, NC · Monday sale · USDA report published 10/20/2026 · Sale days

Head sold

834

Last week 398 (+436)
Last year 747

5-wt steers (500–599 lb)

$371.96 /cwt

$2,059 per head · 30 hd
vs last week +1.89

7-wt steers (700–799 lb)

$309.63 /cwt

$2,294 per head · 8 hd
vs last week −6.09

Compared to last week slaughter cattle were 1.00 to 2.00 higher, while feeder cattle were mostly steady. Trade and demand were moderate with moderate offerings. Quality of cattle was average. 19 head Sheep: 105.00 - 365.00; 44 head Goats: 25.00 - 325.00; 6 head Hogs
USDA Market News reporter, October 19, 2026

Feeder steers — Oct 19

Steers, Medium and Large frame, No. 1 and 1–2 muscle, regular lots, head-weighted by 100-lb band. Last week = sale of Oct 12. Last year = sale of Oct 20. Value added = lots USDA marks as value added (weaned and vaccinated programs). No. 2 = lighter-muscled cattle, a separate grade line in the USDA report. These are kept out of the main price. † Based on fewer than 5 head; treat as a rough price.
Weight	Head	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	vs last week	vs last year	Value added $/cwt	No. 2 $/cwt
300–399 lb	19	347 lb	$466.57	$1,619	−25.72	+49.70	—	$390.00 (1 hd)†
400–499 lb	23	466 lb	$402.47	$1,875	−1.52	−7.22	—	$332.50 (2 hd)†
500–599 lb	30	554 lb	$371.96	$2,059	+1.89	−2.73	—	$322.53 (4 hd)†
600–699 lb	32	648 lb	$328.32	$2,128	−17.08	−22.57	$349.00 (3 hd)†	$294.17 (6 hd)
700–799 lb	8	741 lb	$309.63	$2,294	−6.09	+24.74	—	$235.00 (1 hd)†
800–899 lb	3	849 lb	$305.62†	$2,594	+50.62	+25.62	—	$250.90 (2 hd)†
900–999 lb	2	940 lb	$276.00†	$2,594	—	—	—	—

Feeder heifers — Oct 19

Heifers, Medium and Large frame, No. 1 and 1–2 muscle, regular lots, head-weighted by 100-lb band. Last week = sale of Oct 12. Last year = sale of Oct 20. Value added = lots USDA marks as value added (weaned and vaccinated programs). No. 2 = lighter-muscled cattle, a separate grade line in the USDA report. These are kept out of the main price. † Based on fewer than 5 head; treat as a rough price.
Weight	Head	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	vs last week	vs last year	Value added $/cwt	No. 2 $/cwt
300–399 lb	29	356 lb	$366.06	$1,305	−9.64	−3.37	$406.92 (7 hd)	$335.58 (19 hd)
400–499 lb	51	445 lb	$355.41	$1,582	−8.18	−0.34	—	$304.97 (7 hd)
500–599 lb	38	541 lb	$315.26	$1,704	−5.69	−18.51	—	$262.26 (9 hd)
600–699 lb	24	640 lb	$302.68	$1,938	−6.69	+4.80	—	$244.98 (3 hd)†
700–799 lb	8	750 lb	$276.16	$2,073	−6.10	+28.15	—	$184.97 (3 hd)†
800–899 lb	5	853 lb	$257.20	$2,194	+27.20	+47.20	—	$184.00 (2 hd)†
900–999 lb	5	947 lb	$238.91	$2,263	−0.50	+21.66	—	$170.00 (1 hd)†

Slaughter cows — Oct 19

Grade	Dressing	Head	Avg wt	Avg $/cwt	Range $/cwt
Boner 80-85%	High	2	1,488 lb	$153.08	$150.00–$158.00
Boner 80-85%	Average	46	1,413 lb	$134.07	$128.00–$143.00
Breaker 75-80%	Average	8	1,493 lb	$124.75	$120.00–$130.00
Lean 85-90%	High	4	1,174 lb	$128.97	$128.00–$130.00
Lean 85-90%	Average	42	1,154 lb	$118.82	$110.00–$127.00
Lean 85-90%	Low	6	982 lb	$96.62	$90.00–$100.00

Price trends

Steers 500–599 lb Steady

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $371.96/cwt
4-week average: $375.74
13-week average: $379.27
4-week vs 13-week: −0.9%

52-wk low $337.41high $471.68

Steers 700–799 lb Steady

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $309.63/cwt
4-week average: $306.97
13-week average: $305.25
4-week vs 13-week: +0.6%

52-wk low $255.00high $360.44

Sales in 12 of the last 13 weeks.

Heifers 500–599 lb Easing

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $315.26/cwt
4-week average: $328.49
13-week average: $335.32
4-week vs 13-week: −2.0%

52-wk low $312.17high $402.97

Direction compares the 4-week average with the 13-week average: Rising +1% or more, Steady within ±1%, Easing −1% to −3%, Falling −3% or more. Weekly prices are head-weighted averages of Medium and Large No. 1 and 1–2 feeder cattle, regular lots.

The label describes recent prices; it is not a forecast. In our backtest of every barn since 2019 (about 35,000 barn-weeks), barns labeled Falling went on to beat other barns' average move over the next 13 weeks 61% of the time, and barns labeled Rising trailed it 56% of the time.

Last 52 weeks

Weekly average $/cwt4-week average

Price history since 2019

Weekly average $/cwt

When to sell: the seasonal pattern

5-weight steers

For 500–599 lb steers, prices since 2019 ran highest against their yearly average in Apr and Mar and lowest in Nov and Oct.

Each month's head-weighted average price compared with the centered 12-month average around it, then averaged across years. Past patterns are not a forecast.
Month	vs year avg	Years above	Years
Jan	−1.5%	57%	7
Feb	+2.4%	71%	7
Mar	+6.1%	100%	7
Apr	+8.8%	100%	7
May	+4.3%	57%	7
Jun	+3.1%	86%	7
Jul	+2.4%	86%	7
Aug	+0.5%	71%	7
Sep	−1.2%	50%	6
Oct	−6.5%	0%	7
Nov	−6.6%	0%	7
Dec	−4.6%	0%	7

7-weight steers

For 700–799 lb steers, prices since 2019 ran highest against their yearly average in Jul and Aug and lowest in Nov and Dec.

Each month's head-weighted average price compared with the centered 12-month average around it, then averaged across years. Past patterns are not a forecast.
Month	vs year avg	Years above	Years
Jan	−3.6%	29%	7
Feb	+1.7%	57%	7
Mar	+1.2%	29%	7
Apr	+2.4%	57%	7
May	+3.8%	57%	7
Jun	+2.8%	43%	7
Jul	+4.6%	86%	7
Aug	+4.0%	86%	7
Sep	+3.3%	83%	6
Oct	−3.1%	29%	7
Nov	−6.1%	0%	7
Dec	−5.0%	14%	7

Recent sales

Last 13 weeks. † Based on fewer than 5 head; treat as a rough price. Download the weekly history as CSV.
Sale	Head sold	Steers 500–599 $/cwt	Steers 700–799 $/cwt	Heifers 500–599 $/cwt
Mon Oct 19	834	$371.96	$309.63	$315.26
Mon Oct 12	488	$370.07	$315.72†	$320.94
Mon Oct 5	650	$383.07	$291.34	$333.72
Mon Sep 28	631	$377.85	$311.19	$344.03
Mon Sep 21	669	$374.53	$318.16	$335.82
Mon Sep 14	590	$369.96	$301.78	$323.41
Mon Sep 7	366	$359.81	$255.00†	$315.45
Mon Aug 31	587	$337.41	$292.56	$317.95
Mon Aug 24	545	$369.31	—	$350.14
Mon Aug 17	527	$395.23	$292.50†	$342.61
Mon Aug 10	558	$398.16	$343.00†	$368.27
Mon Aug 3	566	$413.86	$318.30	$362.96
Mon Jul 27	556	$409.30	$313.80	$328.55
Mon Jul 20	580	$410.50	$308.27†	$362.04

Nearby barns this week

Straight-line distance between towns. Barns tagged unweaned show unweaned-calf prices. Every North Carolina sale this week.
Barn	Distance	Sale	Steers 500–599	Steers 700–799
Wilkes Livestock Exchange, North Wilkesboro	26 mi	Oct 19	$332.39†	$311.47
Cleveland County Agriculture & Livestock Exchange, Shelby	60 mi	Oct 20	$357.41	$308.15
Stanly County Livestock Market, Norwood	61 mi	Oct 21	$359.89	$303.65
Carolina Stockyards Livestock Auction, Staley	70 mi	Oct 23	$355.79	$299.38
WNC Regional Livestock Center, Canton	117 mi	Oct 19	$332.39†	$311.47
Powell Livestock Market, Smithfield	140 mi	Oct 22	$343.35	$324.34

Sale days

Sale	Latest report	Head	Sales in 52 weeks	USDA report
Monday	October 19, 2026	834	45	AMS_2088

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry and Grain Market News, “Harward Brothers Livestock Market - Turnersburg, NC” (AMS_2088). See something wrong? Report a correction. Feeder prices are Medium and Large frame No. 1 and 1–2 cattle, $/cwt, grouped into 100-lb bands by average weight and weighted by head count. Value-added, unweaned and No. 2 lots are shown in their own columns; other lot types (fancy, fleshy, thin-fleshed, spayed, replacement) are left out. $/head = $/cwt × average weight ÷ 100.