light 9-weight M&L 1 steers$182.47/cwt-0.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,678/hd at 920 lb · 849 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers$184.37/cwt-3.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,510/hd at 819 lb · 543 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers$189.74/cwt+4.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,687/hd at 889 lb · 427 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
6,231
19,330
11,564
Feeder cattle
6,231
17,980
11,564
Replacement cattle
—
1,350
—
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last week yearling steers sold steady and yearling heifers sold unevenly steady. Not enough light weight fall calves for an adequate market comparison. However, lower undertones were noted. Bulk of the calves under 400 were bawling spring calves. These bawlers are coming out of the SW part of Nebraska that is very dry. Some cattlemen are having to liquidate cows and calves as pastures are very dry. Baled hay reserves are tight and expensive if they must buy several loads to keep their cows fed. Some areas in SW Nebraska have not had ample rain since May of this year. Other areas of the state are dry, and downsizing has been taking place along with some producers have started to wean spring calves to save grass and keep cows in good condition. Nebraska feed lot live sales sold 2.50 to 5.00 lower at 139.00 to 143.50 and dressed sales sold 3.00 lower at 227.00.
USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of
the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is
muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle
scores — common across the Southeast.
What is $/cwt?
Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at
$450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per
cwt but less per head.
Why are some prices per head?
Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the
head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a
$/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News —
federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the
official USDA document at the top of the page.
Cattle Market
Compared to last week yearling steers sold steady and yearling heifers sold unevenly steady. Not enough light weight fall calves for an adequate market comparison. However, lower undertones were noted. Bulk of the calves under 400 were bawling spring calves. These bawlers are coming out of the SW part of Nebraska that is very dry. Some cattlemen are having to liquidate cows and calves as pastures are very dry. Baled hay reserves are tight and expensive if they must buy several loads to keep their cows fed. Some areas in SW Nebraska have not had ample rain since May of this year. Other areas of the state are dry, and downsizing has been taking place along with some producers have started to wean spring calves to save grass and keep cows in good condition. Nebraska feed lot live sales sold 2.50 to 5.00 lower at 139.00 to 143.50 and dressed sales sold 3.00 lower at 227.00.