Knoxville Livestock Center market report — October 20, 2026

Knoxville, TN · Tuesday sale · USDA report published 10/20/2026 · Sale days

Head sold

612

Last week 80 (+532)
Last year 77

5-wt steers (500–599 lb)

$409.94 /cwt

$2,195 per head · 36 hd
vs last week +17.71

7-wt steers (700–799 lb)

$334.26 /cwt

$2,423 per head · 9 hd
vs last week +9.04

Compared to last week, feeder steers weighing up to 500 lbs. sold sharply higher with those weighing over 500 lbs. unevenly steady. Regarding feeder heifers- 3-weights sold sharply higher, with those weighing 400 to 550 lbs. 12.00 higher, and those weighing over 550 lbs. 8.00 lower. Feeder bulls weighing up to 450 lbs. sold sharply higher with those weighing over 450 lbs. 10.00 to 15.00 higher. Strong demand and high-quality offerings were noted for all classes of feeder cattle. Slaughter cows sold 4.00 higher with slaughter bulls 7.00 higher and increased demand was noted for slaughter classes.
USDA Market News reporter, October 20, 2026

Feeder steers — Oct 20

Steers, Medium and Large frame, No. 1 and 1–2 muscle, regular lots, head-weighted by 100-lb band. Last week = sale of Oct 13. Last year = sale of Oct 21. Value added = lots USDA marks as value added (weaned and vaccinated programs). 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
300–399 lb	13	377 lb	$537.88	$2,026	+9.81	+91.75	—
400–499 lb	27	466 lb	$445.22	$2,075	+19.43	+35.61	—
500–599 lb	36	536 lb	$409.94	$2,195	+17.71	+25.09	$415.74 (13 hd)
600–699 lb	11	659 lb	$344.87	$2,273	−12.06	−8.28	$364.43 (19 hd)
700–799 lb	9	725 lb	$334.26	$2,423	+9.04	+6.76	$349.55 (24 hd)
800–899 lb	15	820 lb	$324.68	$2,662	—	—	—
900–999 lb	2	918 lb	$307.25†	$2,821	—	+2.25	—

Feeder heifers — Oct 20

Heifers, Medium and Large frame, No. 1 and 1–2 muscle, regular lots, head-weighted by 100-lb band. Last week = sale of Oct 13. Last year = sale of Oct 21. Value added = lots USDA marks as value added (weaned and vaccinated programs). 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
300–399 lb	21	367 lb	$455.17	$1,669	+39.24	+35.31	—
400–499 lb	41	455 lb	$388.42	$1,768	+16.29	+13.49	—
500–599 lb	62	544 lb	$349.05	$1,900	+4.91	−4.46	—
600–699 lb	20	638 lb	$312.12	$1,991	−6.70	−12.77	$326.95 (19 hd)
700–799 lb	4	725 lb	$299.95†	$2,175	−10.52	+13.43	$310.00 (4 hd)†

Slaughter cows — Oct 20

Grade	Dressing	Head	Avg wt	Avg $/cwt	Range $/cwt
Boner 80-85%	High	7	1,350 lb	$156.38	$151.50–$162.00
Boner 80-85%	Average	16	1,239 lb	$139.21	$130.00–$150.00
Breaker 75-80%	Average	11	1,490 lb	$138.86	$127.50–$147.50
Lean 85-90%	High	1	945 lb	$147.50	$147.50–$147.50
Lean 85-90%	Average	10	1,141 lb	$129.17	$122.00–$144.00
Lean 85-90%	Low	6	1,039 lb	$115.51	$110.00–$120.00

Price trends

Steers 500–599 lb Steady

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $409.94/cwt
4-week average: $388.59
13-week average: $389.21
4-week vs 13-week: −0.2%

52-wk low $345.95high $502.09

Steers 700–799 lb Steady

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $334.26/cwt
4-week average: $331.19
13-week average: $330.24
4-week vs 13-week: +0.3%

52-wk low $309.93high $374.80

Sales in 11 of the last 13 weeks.

Heifers 500–599 lb Easing

Latest (week of October 19, 2026): $349.05/cwt
4-week average: $341.79
13-week average: $348.83
4-week vs 13-week: −2.0%

52-wk low $323.48high $425.14

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 Mar and Apr and lowest in Oct and Nov.

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	+1.1%	57%	7
Feb	+4.9%	86%	7
Mar	+7.1%	100%	7
Apr	+6.5%	100%	7
May	+4.6%	71%	7
Jun	+3.5%	71%	7
Jul	+2.0%	57%	7
Aug	+0.1%	57%	7
Sep	−3.4%	29%	7
Oct	−7.7%	0%	7
Nov	−7.6%	0%	6
Dec	−7.3%	17%	6

7-weight steers

For 700–799 lb steers, prices since 2019 ran highest against their yearly average in Jun and Jul 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	−2.0%	43%	7
Feb	+0.9%	29%	7
Mar	+2.7%	86%	7
Apr	+1.7%	71%	7
May	+1.9%	57%	7
Jun	+4.2%	86%	7
Jul	+4.1%	86%	7
Aug	+2.8%	71%	7
Sep	+1.2%	83%	6
Oct	−2.3%	33%	6
Nov	−5.3%	0%	6
Dec	−5.0%	0%	6

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
Tue Oct 20	612	$409.94	$334.26	$349.05
Tue Oct 13	862	$392.23	$325.22†	$344.14
Tue Oct 6	649	$377.74	$325.86	$335.91
Tue Sep 29	879	$374.44	$339.41	$338.08
Tue Sep 22	742	$402.09	$336.34	$348.00
Tue Sep 15	887	$367.81	$331.28	$342.90
Tue Sep 8	430	$356.87	$322.60†	$337.75
Tue Sep 1	308	$357.02	$309.93	$323.48
Tue Aug 25	371	$376.66	—	$339.12
Tue Aug 18	485	$390.84	—	$354.40
Tue Aug 11	1,050	$423.21	$335.26	$385.14
Tue Aug 4	696	$424.40	$334.99	$366.88
Tue Jul 28	853	$406.44	$337.50†	$369.97
Tue Jul 21	608	$416.42	$341.13	$371.81

Video sales

Knoxville Livestock Center also sells cattle by video for delivery now or later. $/cwt, all delivery dates; the video page has prices by delivery month. Video sales are not in this page's weekly trend.
Video auction	Last sale	Head reported	Steers 500–599	Steers 700–799	Heifers 500–599	Sales, 12 months
Knoxville Livestock Center Video Auction	Oct 20	60	—	—	—	14

Nearby barns this week

Straight-line distance between towns. Barns tagged unweaned show unweaned-calf prices. Every Tennessee sale this week.
Barn	Distance	Sale	Steers 500–599	Steers 700–799
East Tennessee Livestock Center, Sweetwater	39 mi	Oct 21	—	$317.50†
Athens Regional Stockyard, Athens	51 mi	Oct 20	$359.35	$330.80
Crossville Stockyard, Crossville	60 mi	Oct 24	$385.42	$323.18
Volunteer Stockyards, Greeneville	65 mi	Oct 24	—	—
Warren Co. Livestock Auction, McMinnville	104 mi	Oct 19	—	—
Smith County Commission Co., Carthage	113 mi	Oct 24	$386.83	$315.00

Sale days

Sale	Latest report	Head	Sales in 52 weeks	USDA report
Tuesday	October 20, 2026	612	47	AMS_2066

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry and Grain Market News, “Knoxville Livestock Center - Knoxville, TN” (AMS_2066). 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.