Cattle Market Pulse

Nebraska Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 11, 2023

21,314 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 $276.49/cwt +10.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,717/hd at 621 lb · 1,632 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $243.35/cwt +4.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,746/hd at 718 lb · 1,318 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $254.36/cwt +3.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,708/hd at 671 lb · 1,314 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 21,314 28,076 12,133
Feeder cattle 17,119 26,818 10,801
Replacement cattle 4,195 1,258 1,332

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.

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Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–349 341 30 321.00–335.00 $329.63 $1,124 -19.07
376 unweaned 376 7 325.00 $325.00 $1,222 —
380–397 387 108 322.50–348.00 $337.89 $1,308 -6.48
418 thin fleshed 418 14 336.00 $336.00 $1,404 —
419 419 9 303.00 $303.00 $1,270 -24.55
404–449 429 201 306.00–338.00 $328.20 $1,408 +0.65
433 unweaned 433 10 301.00 $301.00 $1,303 —
454 454 5 287.00 $287.00 $1,303 +1.79
463 thin fleshed 463 14 311.00 $311.00 $1,440 —
451–498 474 416 216.50–337.50 $320.02 $1,517 +7.42
478 478 12 304.50 $304.50 $1,456 -8.10
469–486 unweaned 481 51 290.00–306.50 $300.83 $1,447 —
510 510 7 281.00 $281.00 $1,433 -17.31
515 515 26 299.00 $299.00 $1,540 +0.69
506–526 unweaned 520 39 275.00–280.00 $276.37 $1,437 —
508–546 fancy 523 367 317.50–325.00 $320.71 $1,677 -0.42
507–548 531 510 260.00–306.00 $295.55 $1,569 +12.66
550–556 551 33 281.00–288.50 $282.83 $1,558 -5.17
551–590 569 820 270.75–306.50 $288.59 $1,642 +0.59
558–586 thin fleshed 569 61 289.00–294.00 $290.94 $1,655 -2.06
570 fancy 570 90 312.50 $312.50 $1,781 —
550–593 577 34 261.00–261.50 $261.18 $1,507 -20.99
552–596 unweaned 580 76 255.00–271.00 $263.39 $1,528 —
600–620 fancy 606 348 290.00–305.00 $299.36 $1,814 +10.39
609–643 619 80 263.00–274.00 $270.57 $1,675 +11.80
600–647 625 1,138 251.00–286.50 $271.52 $1,697 +12.75
620–641 unweaned 632 66 248.00–250.00 $248.80 $1,572 +6.98
651 thin fleshed 651 66 260.00 $260.00 $1,693 -4.02
650–658 unweaned 656 51 239.00–254.00 $242.20 $1,589 +11.57
658–665 fancy 663 118 266.75–268.50 $268.04 $1,777 -3.10
651–693 672 897 245.75–267.00 $256.41 $1,723 +9.21
670–691 685 182 234.50–237.50 $236.77 $1,622 -10.43
706 706 137 248.50 $248.50 $1,754 +9.30
701–718 710 53 226.00–228.75 $227.93 $1,618 -11.27
705–715 unweaned 710 26 215.00–226.00 $220.12 $1,563 —
712 fancy 712 167 260.25 $260.25 $1,853 —
700–748 721 935 234.50–253.25 $241.10 $1,738 +1.90
750–779 771 661 227.50–242.25 $234.59 $1,809 +2.30
750–790 772 148 222.00–229.75 $224.81 $1,736 -7.48
796 796 64 242.00 $242.00 $1,926 +22.94
809–835 812 91 211.00–217.00 $213.41 $1,733 -12.14
800–848 825 524 218.00–229.75 $226.55 $1,869 +1.00
850–863 857 168 206.50–228.35 $223.85 $1,918 +3.72
863 863 19 211.25 $211.25 $1,823 -8.88
923–925 924 42 200.00–207.00 $204.67 $1,891 -1.75
903–948 933 229 205.00–218.50 $212.93 $1,987 +6.51
1000 1000 11 195.00 $195.00 $1,950 —
1050 1050 19 198.00 $198.00 $2,079 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 5 317.50 $317.50 $1,064 +1.31
360 unweaned 360 5 314.00 $314.00 $1,130 —
419–426 425 52 250.00–313.00 $286.41 $1,217 -12.54
481 unweaned 481 8 291.00 $291.00 $1,400 —
473–492 483 77 271.00–322.00 $298.81 $1,443 +15.29
506 506 24 305.00 $305.00 $1,543 +27.62
559–597 578 148 235.00–279.50 $266.95 $1,543 +15.71
581 thin fleshed 581 20 270.00 $270.00 $1,569 +7.00
600–649 625 108 238.00–262.75 $256.81 $1,605 +19.47
676 unweaned 676 21 229.50 $229.50 $1,551 —
664–695 679 169 218.00–250.00 $237.78 $1,615 -0.04
731–733 732 32 234.50–244.00 $240.74 $1,762 +16.15
856–890 878 14 186.00–195.00 $191.87 $1,685 -16.76
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760 760 14 213.00 $213.00 $1,619 —
860 860 16 205.50 $205.50 $1,767 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302–349 319 41 280.00–327.50 $290.88 $928 -14.55
363 unweaned 363 10 287.00 $287.00 $1,042 —
356–397 379 226 277.00–326.00 $314.15 $1,191 +35.55
429 thin fleshed 429 43 333.00 $333.00 $1,429 —
400–447 430 391 261.00–321.00 $300.97 $1,294 +22.54
443 443 21 262.00 $262.00 $1,161 -16.43
451–498 480 513 259.50–313.00 $286.32 $1,374 +41.89
480–499 unweaned 486 88 246.00–276.00 $269.35 $1,309 —
488 488 15 255.00 $255.00 $1,244 +7.00
501–549 528 409 237.00–291.00 $267.79 $1,414 +19.48
533 533 28 292.50 $292.50 $1,559 +13.50
536 536 11 250.00 $250.00 $1,340 -29.00
508–548 unweaned 538 73 242.50–268.00 $260.05 $1,399 —
556 556 18 260.50 $260.50 $1,448 +27.53
565–587 thin fleshed 578 89 257.00–262.00 $258.45 $1,494 —
551–599 579 519 235.00–263.50 $251.99 $1,459 +4.05
556–590 unweaned 580 45 237.00–242.50 $240.36 $1,394 —
574–587 580 85 235.50–239.00 $238.00 $1,380 -9.94
611 611 34 253.00 $253.00 $1,546 +16.52
601–647 618 448 225.00–259.50 $239.80 $1,482 +3.32
608–643 631 30 216.50–222.00 $218.80 $1,381 -25.20
645 unweaned 645 19 231.00 $231.00 $1,490 +8.79
660–677 unweaned 666 21 193.00–228.00 $216.13 $1,439 -5.87
651–691 675 652 216.00–235.50 $223.75 $1,510 +5.92
666–694 688 134 210.00–218.50 $216.82 $1,492 -1.01
700–738 712 443 203.00–220.00 $213.31 $1,519 +16.81
727 727 40 206.00 $206.00 $1,498 -1.01
760 760 10 201.00 $201.00 $1,528 +5.64
751–772 767 108 190.00–212.00 $208.05 $1,596 +12.69
810 810 12 195.00 $195.00 $1,580 -9.45
800–820 816 32 206.00–209.00 $206.55 $1,685 +2.10
851–899 887 49 193.00–200.50 $194.76 $1,728 +5.26
903–947 913 92 195.00–199.50 $196.78 $1,797 +3.93
1006–1040 1018 42 173.00–194.00 $188.52 $1,919 +14.52
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 unweaned 345 6 261.00 $261.00 $900 —
430 unweaned 430 6 241.00 $241.00 $1,036 —
434–437 436 26 265.00–266.00 $265.77 $1,159 +11.13
467 unweaned 467 13 258.00 $258.00 $1,205 —
458–492 471 105 236.00–290.50 $272.89 $1,285 +20.79
506–546 534 144 242.00–265.50 $255.76 $1,366 +12.00
554–555 554 72 227.00–246.00 $243.64 $1,350 +17.78
585 unweaned 585 23 223.00 $223.00 $1,305 —
606–642 621 34 205.00–240.50 $226.73 $1,408 +7.46
653 653 8 200.00 $200.00 $1,306 -4.54
835 835 37 180.00 $180.00 $1,503 ±0.00
977 977 8 174.00 $174.00 $1,700 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
671 671 8 197.50 $197.50 $1,325 —
744 744 24 194.50 $194.50 $1,447 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1035 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 19 2,450.00 $2,450.00
1084 1084 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 2,300.00 $2,300.00
1077–1332 1195 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 207 1,675.00–3,275.00 $2,916.16
1024–1467 1217 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 487 2,200.00–3,250.00 $2,724.83
1200–1317 1237 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 113 3,150.00–3,400.00 $3,251.32
1112–1369 1282 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 247 1,150.00–1,700.00 $1,565.52
1156–1440 1294 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 348 1,625.00–2,900.00 $2,256.49
1185–1460 1320 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 129 1,500.00–2,000.00 $1,783.12
1269–1403 1372 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 67 1,525.00–1,825.00 $1,734.65
1321–1435 1376 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 187 2,150.00–3,375.00 $2,784.19
1195–1551 1396 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 179 1,400.00–2,300.00 $1,857.40
1303–1437 1401 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 91 1,950.00–2,400.00 $2,095.96
1210–1517 1404 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 217 2,050.00–2,900.00 $2,641.92
1306–1500 1426 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 92 1,400.00–2,100.00 $1,595.89
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1185 1185 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1130–1446 1221 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 50 1,325.00–1,550.00 $1,418.24
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1343 1343 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 16 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1372–1451 1406 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,700.00–1,800.00 $1,744.23
1465 1465 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 1,770.00 $1,770.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
981–1166 1060 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 149 2,100.00–3,200.00 $2,703.82
982–1204 1088 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 901 2,400.00–3,350.00 $2,855.04
1022–1170 1091 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 216 2,300.00–3,225.00 $2,603.99
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
962–1070 1007 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 93 2,200.00–2,275.00 $2,234.66
1092–1096 1094 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 30 2,250.00–2,350.00 $2,293.42

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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.