Cattle Market Pulse

Nebraska Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 4, 2023

28,076 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Nebraska Weekly Livestock Auction Summary report →

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $265.61/cwt +5.55 vs last sale · ≈ $1,656/hd at 623 lb · 3,052 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $281.34/cwt +8.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,628/hd at 579 lb · 2,182 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $299.73/cwt +12.19 vs last sale · ≈ $1,577/hd at 526 lb · 1,917 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 28,076 17,342 33,509
Feeder cattle 26,818 15,694 30,685
Replacement cattle 1,258 1,648 2,824

Market comments — USDA reporter

This week in Nebraska feeder cattle markets trended mostly 5.00-10.00 lower prior to becoming steady late in the week on Friday and Saturday. There were spots of higher market trends for light weight calves suitable for stocker operations. Overall demand was moderate to good. It's been well noted that feeder cattle markets have trended lower over the past couple of weeks influenced negatively by a downward trend in the feeder cattle futures since its September peak as speculators and hedgers continue their quest to find a balance of risk and opportunity in the market. A few bred cow sales took place this week with some complete dispersals noted. Buying interest remains good for replacement cows and heifers. Based on both anecdotal and statistical evidence the cattle industry is yet to begin its herd rebuilding phase and the supply fundamentals supports the ownership of cattle. Fed cattle trade trended lower as well this past week from mostly 166.00-171.00 (Live) / 265.00-272.00 (Dressed) across the 5-area region with most of those markets pulled lower in the late week trade.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–347 326 273 300.00–365.00 $348.70 $1,137 +19.01
369 fancy 369 124 364.00 $364.00 $1,343 —
353–395 386 475 288.00–352.50 $344.37 $1,329 +41.37
386 386 6 320.00 $320.00 $1,235 +17.00
400–429 fancy 410 223 348.00–357.50 $353.56 $1,450 —
400–447 429 645 276.00–343.00 $327.55 $1,405 +16.70
432 432 43 309.00 $309.00 $1,335 -1.85
434 434 14 305.00 $305.00 $1,324 -5.85
458–460 fancy 459 123 335.00–336.00 $335.42 $1,540 —
461–466 464 17 281.00–290.00 $285.21 $1,323 -22.07
459–490 470 42 275.00–297.00 $292.21 $1,373 -15.07
450–499 472 905 269.00–326.50 $312.60 $1,475 +5.32
501–548 525 1,665 269.00–317.00 $298.31 $1,566 +9.44
531–532 fancy 532 173 306.00–330.00 $321.13 $1,708 —
519–545 535 79 257.00–299.00 $282.89 $1,513 -5.98
553 thin fleshed 553 5 293.00 $293.00 $1,620 —
576 576 71 288.00 $288.00 $1,659 +12.53
551–598 578 1,868 245.00–305.00 $282.17 $1,631 +6.70
575–582 579 74 262.00–262.50 $262.31 $1,519 +1.47
550–598 587 164 258.00–281.00 $277.22 $1,627 +16.38
600–614 fancy 607 794 269.50–311.00 $288.97 $1,754 —
603–639 unweaned 628 28 235.00–248.00 $241.82 $1,519 -19.97
600–649 629 2,100 236.00–276.00 $258.77 $1,628 -1.83
603–645 632 130 232.00–244.50 $238.62 $1,508 -5.67
657 657 59 270.00 $270.00 $1,774 +32.83
661–671 fancy 665 222 266.00–279.00 $271.14 $1,803 —
658–678 667 101 225.00–236.50 $232.29 $1,549 -4.88
650–697 670 1,290 224.00–264.00 $247.20 $1,656 +10.03
665–674 thin fleshed 670 160 261.00–267.00 $264.02 $1,769 —
666–686 unweaned 679 24 230.00–231.00 $230.63 $1,566 -14.69
700–747 723 1,337 216.00–257.50 $239.20 $1,729 +0.64
725–738 730 35 218.00–229.00 $224.55 $1,639 -14.01
750–770 unweaned 763 20 207.50–212.00 $209.05 $1,595 -10.80
753–798 769 251 210.50–249.50 $232.29 $1,786 -8.66
776–795 783 47 201.00–229.00 $219.06 $1,715 -21.89
804–849 815 233 206.00–235.75 $225.55 $1,838 +0.55
855–872 861 181 204.00–225.50 $220.13 $1,895 +1.49
910 910 186 228.50 $228.50 $2,079 +8.50
904–948 926 108 200.50–211.00 $206.42 $1,911 -24.80
1028–1049 1037 18 190.00–191.50 $190.83 $1,979 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 thin fleshed 315 5 311.00 $311.00 $980 —
319–349 333 11 315.00–317.50 $316.19 $1,053 —
360 thin fleshed 360 26 308.00 $308.00 $1,109 —
352–396 372 118 275.00–331.00 $310.50 $1,155 —
385 385 7 286.00 $286.00 $1,101 —
414 414 9 277.00 $277.00 $1,147 +16.00
405–449 431 194 250.00–329.00 $298.95 $1,288 +37.95
456 456 13 250.50 $250.50 $1,142 -23.27
473–474 thin fleshed 473 45 278.00–283.00 $278.78 $1,319 —
457–497 478 227 261.00–304.00 $283.52 $1,355 +9.75
528 thin fleshed 528 11 267.00 $267.00 $1,410 —
516–549 530 268 251.00–298.00 $277.38 $1,470 +21.31
543 543 5 238.00 $238.00 $1,292 -18.07
558–575 thin fleshed 570 19 263.00 $263.00 $1,499 —
550–599 577 407 220.00–271.00 $251.24 $1,450 +16.24
603–646 624 133 221.00–251.00 $237.34 $1,481 -3.07
653–697 681 240 218.00–245.50 $237.82 $1,620 +13.79
681 681 12 215.00 $215.00 $1,464 -9.03
682 682 12 221.00 $221.00 $1,507 -3.03
704–746 724 178 208.50–238.00 $224.59 $1,626 +0.55
750 unweaned 750 9 212.00 $212.00 $1,590 +2.00
768–784 773 43 210.00–230.00 $223.40 $1,727 -5.60
790 790 67 213.25 $213.25 $1,685 -15.75
809 809 16 211.00 $211.00 $1,707 —
853–861 854 69 184.00–211.00 $208.63 $1,782 —
972 972 5 146.00 $146.00 $1,419 —
1024–1028 1027 24 151.00–177.00 $156.40 $1,606 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
235 235 11 875.00 $875.00 —
297 297 26 1,085.00 $1,085.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
16 16 15 232.00 $232.00 $37 —
92 92 10 250.00 $250.00 $230 —
303–345 329 59 293.00–315.00 $305.43 $1,005 +11.00
326–337 329 18 284.00–288.00 $285.14 $938 -9.29
350–395 373 113 246.00–307.00 $278.60 $1,039 -2.70
404–448 427 454 243.00–300.00 $278.43 $1,189 -4.23
450–495 474 593 241.00–290.00 $268.06 $1,271 -1.04
450–495 475 20 244.00–245.00 $244.43 $1,161 -24.67
485 485 37 248.00 $248.00 $1,203 +0.07
476–494 thin fleshed 488 96 278.00–279.00 $278.67 $1,360 +5.67
502 thin fleshed 502 86 278.00 $278.00 $1,396 +12.83
503 503 11 240.50 $240.50 $1,210 -18.19
501–549 523 985 230.00–279.50 $256.93 $1,344 -1.76
526 fancy 526 70 272.00 $272.00 $1,431 —
506–533 527 51 244.00–250.00 $248.31 $1,309 -10.38
532 532 80 279.00 $279.00 $1,484 +36.16
555–591 567 71 225.50–237.00 $232.97 $1,321 -15.21
551–595 572 921 222.00–265.00 $247.94 $1,418 -0.24
600–642 615 641 215.50–266.00 $236.48 $1,454 -2.66
608–633 unweaned 623 68 216.00–226.50 $222.21 $1,384 -13.09
600–645 626 83 212.00–230.00 $221.44 $1,386 -17.70
631 631 31 244.00 $244.00 $1,540 +4.86
652 unweaned 652 34 222.00 $222.00 $1,447 -6.37
650–689 667 485 201.00–233.00 $217.83 $1,453 -11.72
712 712 9 196.50 $196.50 $1,399 -19.83
701–749 714 249 191.00–214.00 $207.01 $1,478 -9.32
758 758 13 214.50 $214.50 $1,626 +19.50
752–764 759 27 192.50–199.00 $195.36 $1,483 +0.36
755–790 781 85 185.50–205.00 $191.22 $1,493 -3.78
801–844 807 199 180.00–207.75 $204.45 $1,650 +3.37
855 855 21 190.00 $190.00 $1,624 -20.99
879 879 9 189.50 $189.50 $1,666 -21.49
919–932 925 21 184.00–201.00 $192.85 $1,784 -10.30
1038 1038 8 174.00 $174.00 $1,806 -7.00
1053 1053 26 174.00 $174.00 $1,832 +3.00
1171 1171 40 169.00 $169.00 $1,979 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323–335 327 23 247.00–265.00 $252.62 $826 +2.62
353–394 374 100 236.00–292.00 $266.99 $999 +9.19
403–442 thin fleshed 423 125 266.00–272.00 $269.05 $1,138 —
413–436 428 88 244.00–269.00 $254.64 $1,090 -0.11
461–499 481 226 230.00–270.50 $252.10 $1,213 +1.49
509–547 536 120 230.00–255.00 $243.76 $1,307 +11.19
553–599 575 367 213.00–241.50 $225.86 $1,299 -7.02
600–645 622 156 201.00–226.50 $219.27 $1,364 -6.11
666–695 678 53 200.00–216.00 $204.54 $1,387 -4.26
783 783 20 183.00 $183.00 $1,433 -12.00
811 811 5 180.00 $180.00 $1,460 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
272–283 276 30 775.00–850.00 $805.72 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 8 271.00 $271.00 $1,301 —
658 unweaned 658 8 220.00 $220.00 $1,448 —
703 703 5 194.00 $194.00 $1,364 —
821 821 27 196.50 $196.50 $1,613 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 unweaned 590 6 215.00 $215.00 $1,268 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
982–1397 1127 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 192 2,485.00–3,010.00 $2,657.03
1317 1317 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 2,225.00 $2,225.00
1205–1463 1343 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 97 2,375.00–2,510.00 $2,433.92
1330–1532 1417 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 79 1,450.00–1,950.00 $1,594.64
1408–1439 1426 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 61 1,550.00–2,000.00 $1,882.77
1318–1678 1447 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 80 1,975.00–2,060.00 $2,031.73
1448 1448 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 22 2,825.00 $2,825.00
1431–1514 1450 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 63 1,485.00–1,825.00 $1,602.77
1456 1456 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,550.00 $2,550.00
1543 1543 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,650.00 $2,650.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1227–1364 1273 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 30 1,125.00–1,375.00 $1,201.25
1272–1403 1324 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 1,160.00–1,385.00 $1,255.34
1428 1428 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,100.00 $2,100.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990–1150 1040 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 112 2,000.00–2,675.00 $2,141.43
894–1109 1042 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 363 2,050.00–2,600.00 $2,306.09

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

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.