Most feeder cattle are priced in dollars per hundredweight, written $/cwt. One cwt is 100 pounds. Your check, though, is in dollars per head. Here's how to go back and forth.
The two formulas
Per head = (weight in lb ÷ 100) × price per cwt
Per cwt = price per head ÷ (weight in lb ÷ 100)
That's all there is to it. The rest is using them well.
Example 1: per cwt to per head
From a USDA report (Roswell Livestock Auction, Oct. 12, 2026): 580-lb steers, average $369.92/cwt.
- 580 ÷ 100 = 5.80 cwt
- 5.80 × $369.92 = $2,145.54 per head
Example 2: per head to per cwt
The same report shows light calves sold by the head: 215 lb at $1,250 per head.
- 215 ÷ 100 = 2.15 cwt
- $1,250 ÷ 2.15 = $581.40/cwt
Converting lets you compare a per-head lot with per-cwt lots in the same report.
Example 3: is the extra weight worth it? (the "value of gain")
Heavier calves usually bring less per cwt but more per head. The question is how much each extra pound is really worth. Using two lines from the same report:
| Avg weight | $/cwt | $/head | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighter steers | 473 lb | $425.80 | 4.73 × 425.80 = $2,014.03 |
| Heavier steers | 580 lb | $369.92 | 5.80 × 369.92 = $2,145.54 |
- Extra weight: 580 − 473 = 107 lb
- Extra dollars: $2,145.54 − $2,014.03 = $131.51
- Value of each added pound: $131.51 ÷ 107 = about $1.23 per lb
If putting on those 107 pounds costs you less than about $1.23 a pound in grass, feed, interest and death loss, adding weight paid on that day. If it costs more, it didn't. This "value of gain" changes every week, so redo the math with your own barn's report.
These numbers come from one past report to show the method. They are not a price forecast.
Watch the weights
- Pay weight vs. home weight. Cattle lose weight (shrink) between your pens and the scale. Pricing per cwt on the barn's weight is not the same as on your scale at home.
- "Full" cattle (extra fill in the belly) usually sell at a discount, so filling cattle up doesn't help.
- Weight ranges matter. Price differences between weight groups (the "price slide") vary by week and by barn.
Figuring your net check
From the gross dollars per head, subtract what your barn charges. That may include commission, yardage, insurance, brand inspection or beef checkoff, and trucking. Every barn is different, so ask for their fee sheet.
Example with made-up numbers: $2,145.54 gross − 3% commission ($64.37) − $15 in other charges = $2,066.17 net. Your barn's charges will differ.
What to do next
- Pull your barn's latest report on USDA My Market News.
- Find the lines that match your cattle: class, grade, weight and comments.
- Run the per-head and value-of-gain math before you decide whether to sell now or add weight.
Cownty shows USDA-reported prices by barn and can do the per-head math for your weights.
Cownty is an independent service and is not affiliated with USDA. This is general information, not financial advice.
See it for your county
Check your county
Every county, by state: Texas · Oklahoma · Kansas · New Mexico
Official sources
- USDA AMS Market News – Roswell Livestock Auction report (Oct. 12, 2026), example prices
- USDA My Market News – Glossary: Full
- USDA My Market News
Rules and dates checked against these pages on Oct 18, 2026. Information only, not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice: the agency decides. Not affiliated with USDA or any government agency.