Cattle Market Pulse

Nebraska Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 16, 2024

33,235 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 $320.59/cwt -3.43 vs last sale · ≈ $1,993/hd at 622 lb · 2,537 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $305.90/cwt +2.58 vs last sale · ≈ $2,050/hd at 670 lb · 2,134 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $283.90/cwt -8.33 vs last sale · ≈ $2,062/hd at 726 lb · 1,794 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 33,235 30,378 13,823
Feeder cattle 29,971 24,314 13,823
Replacement cattle 3,264 6,064 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week steers less than 600 lbs sold 10.00 to 15.00 higher, over 600 lbs sold steady to 2.00 higher. Heifers less than 700 lbs sold steady to 6.00 higher over 700 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Demand was very good for steers suitable for summer grass with good demand for all other classes of feeders. Demand was good, instances very good for bred heifers and bred cows. Several loads of bred females headed out of state. Most auction markets closed the year out with pretty good size calf and feeder sales. Few sale barns will hold feeder sales on December 30 and then again on January 3 and 4. With normal sale schedules the first full week of January. Feedlot trade was steady on dressed sales at 305.00 and live sales steady to .50 higher from 195.00 to 195.50.

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
304–329 323 60 432.50–477.50 $447.68 $1,446 -12.64
353–398 379 252 389.00–475.00 $437.43 $1,658 +21.42
385 385 6 400.00 $400.00 $1,540 -16.01
400–415 thin fleshed 410 49 415.00–420.00 $418.87 $1,717 +26.87
400–420 fancy 414 65 437.00–446.00 $439.51 $1,820 —
401–447 425 501 359.00–447.00 $417.21 $1,773 +26.69
409–440 431 41 378.00–385.00 $383.46 $1,653 +20.14
450–458 thin fleshed 451 45 396.00–405.00 $403.38 $1,819 —
456 456 24 374.00 $374.00 $1,705 +43.76
455–461 fancy 460 74 372.50–406.00 $400.58 $1,843 -16.42
450–499 470 788 321.00–435.00 $399.81 $1,879 +17.08
454–491 474 95 360.50–373.00 $367.55 $1,742 -15.18
477 477 12 365.00 $365.00 $1,741 -17.73
500 500 9 340.00 $340.00 $1,700 +10.58
502–518 thin fleshed 507 63 372.00–377.00 $374.61 $1,899 —
508 508 47 359.00 $359.00 $1,824 +29.58
500–543 525 45 330.00–342.00 $337.79 $1,773 +8.37
500–546 526 1,623 335.00–394.00 $367.72 $1,934 +38.30
551–566 fancy 554 95 343.00–349.00 $347.97 $1,928 -15.67
551–563 554 26 318.00–321.00 $318.82 $1,766 -21.10
550–599 570 1,333 300.00–371.00 $343.14 $1,956 +3.22
576 576 39 331.50 $331.50 $1,909 -8.42
580–591 588 21 317.00–319.50 $318.80 $1,875 +0.66
606 606 148 325.00 $325.00 $1,970 +5.51
607–623 fancy 616 196 360.00–363.00 $361.33 $2,226 +8.38
600–646 623 2,138 290.00–359.00 $317.25 $1,976 -2.24
619–643 639 55 290.00–296.00 $293.21 $1,874 -1.44
660–666 fancy 662 126 344.00 $344.00 $2,277 +38.00
650–693 667 1,555 289.00–339.00 $306.97 $2,047 +3.34
655–694 674 148 282.00–299.75 $289.93 $1,954 -13.70
657–699 687 305 288.50–299.00 $292.47 $2,009 -11.16
700–747 722 1,289 268.00–311.00 $285.27 $2,060 +10.08
729 unweaned 729 13 264.00 $264.00 $1,925 —
700–743 731 281 275.00–284.00 $280.36 $2,049 -11.23
745–746 745 211 278.00–282.00 $281.45 $2,097 -10.14
763 763 95 273.50 $273.50 $2,087 -8.19
750–798 774 1,454 260.50–292.50 $275.12 $2,129 +1.84
757–782 776 83 262.50–270.00 $267.01 $2,072 -6.27
800–845 818 466 261.50–277.00 $268.58 $2,197 -0.95
832 832 67 264.50 $264.50 $2,201 -5.03
843–845 844 84 262.00–263.50 $262.88 $2,219 -6.65
856 856 340 262.00 $262.00 $2,243 -2.93
857–878 868 45 240.00–250.00 $244.61 $2,123 -12.89
885–897 891 99 251.00–255.50 $252.83 $2,253 -5.17
906–912 909 97 249.00–250.50 $250.06 $2,273 -3.01
906–918 914 24 238.00–245.50 $242.33 $2,215 -10.74
953–980 954 266 239.00–262.75 $262.29 $2,502 +1.67
1045 1045 56 237.00 $237.00 $2,477 -13.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319 thin fleshed 319 21 430.00 $430.00 $1,372 —
322 322 5 382.50 $382.50 $1,232 +47.50
309–344 324 77 402.50–440.00 $414.40 $1,343 +79.40
355–383 371 12 360.00–364.00 $362.41 $1,345 -17.26
364–398 385 109 377.50–434.00 $402.97 $1,551 +23.30
387–390 thin fleshed 388 51 393.00–399.00 $394.66 $1,531 —
405–408 406 13 344.00–350.00 $347.68 $1,412 +4.68
415–437 thin fleshed 417 52 374.00–402.50 $399.63 $1,666 —
404–449 433 160 331.00–390.00 $372.39 $1,612 +9.95
481 thin fleshed 481 38 371.00 $371.00 $1,785 —
460–499 484 214 325.00–388.00 $356.48 $1,725 +55.48
512–548 532 250 308.00–358.00 $338.39 $1,800 +8.13
550–597 577 127 300.00–329.00 $316.99 $1,829 +0.15
607–647 632 154 282.00–308.00 $294.49 $1,861 +11.16
676–699 692 144 276.00–294.50 $285.19 $1,974 —
703–749 734 88 260.50–287.00 $273.77 $2,009 +3.77
758–786 782 23 250.00–259.50 $255.57 $1,999 -0.81
821 821 8 245.50 $245.50 $2,016 -7.00
844 844 31 245.50 $245.50 $2,072 -7.00
1076 1076 9 214.00 $214.00 $2,303 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 48 255.10 $255.10 $2,640 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 313 13 380.00 $380.00 $1,189 +4.69
306–343 327 48 397.50–430.00 $408.64 $1,336 +33.33
350–396 376 247 329.00–392.00 $369.55 $1,390 -15.33
402–410 406 41 341.00–347.50 $344.03 $1,397 +0.02
401–448 422 535 328.00–398.00 $359.00 $1,515 +14.99
419–442 433 50 331.00–345.00 $335.56 $1,453 -27.47
457 457 22 310.00 $310.00 $1,417 -11.25
454–475 thin fleshed 459 188 350.00–371.00 $359.40 $1,650 —
450–498 478 852 312.50–380.00 $338.69 $1,619 +17.44
487–494 492 37 311.00 $311.00 $1,530 -10.25
500–510 thin fleshed 506 150 328.00–339.00 $332.03 $1,680 —
500–549 521 1,444 292.50–349.00 $323.12 $1,683 +32.07
531 531 90 319.00 $319.00 $1,694 +5.90
545 545 52 350.00 $350.00 $1,908 +36.90
550–598 572 1,195 277.00–326.00 $300.42 $1,718 +3.82
556–596 586 30 284.00–287.00 $285.68 $1,674 -10.92
601–606 604 85 319.00 $319.00 $1,927 +38.27
600–643 619 1,048 268.00–301.00 $284.51 $1,761 +3.78
622–631 629 300 277.50–279.50 $279.11 $1,756 -1.62
618–644 630 140 270.00–281.00 $275.15 $1,733 -5.58
634 thin fleshed 634 20 297.00 $297.00 $1,883 —
655–683 663 129 282.00–287.00 $285.60 $1,894 +17.23
650–697 670 655 245.00–291.00 $270.25 $1,811 +1.88
657–691 673 45 252.00–265.00 $258.23 $1,738 -10.14
708–720 fancy 711 133 270.50–272.00 $270.82 $1,926 —
702–746 724 564 245.00–263.50 $256.30 $1,856 -0.93
737 737 21 283.00 $283.00 $2,086 +25.77
748 748 58 256.50 $256.50 $1,919 -0.73
765–788 778 244 239.00–255.50 $246.12 $1,915 -5.48
801–841 820 210 237.00–248.00 $243.34 $1,995 +2.56
900–923 907 123 225.00–245.00 $240.81 $2,184 +11.64
985 985 59 225.00 $225.00 $2,216 -13.50
1005 1005 11 214.00 $214.00 $2,151 -11.97
1064 1064 20 217.50 $217.50 $2,314 +27.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322 thin fleshed 322 35 384.00 $384.00 $1,236 —
320–348 331 52 350.00–390.00 $366.31 $1,212 —
378 thin fleshed 378 45 370.00 $370.00 $1,399 —
370–394 380 62 335.00–366.00 $347.94 $1,322 -13.06
401 thin fleshed 401 19 350.00 $350.00 $1,404 —
420–444 431 229 295.00–365.00 $337.96 $1,457 +5.83
457–499 474 75 281.00–329.00 $307.57 $1,458 -11.58
510–549 537 160 283.00–316.00 $301.62 $1,620 +13.56
564–595 591 112 271.00–286.50 $282.48 $1,669 +10.41
601–638 625 129 258.00–266.50 $259.93 $1,625 +7.56
673–695 687 55 242.50–260.00 $255.62 $1,756 +2.21
736 736 66 240.00 $240.00 $1,766 -0.65
766 766 9 235.00 $235.00 $1,800 —
849 849 25 225.00 $225.00 $1,910 +5.00
979 979 8 195.00 $195.00 $1,909 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
263 263 9 1,120.00 $1,120.00 —
308–345 324 7 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,268.48 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
296 thin fleshed 296 10 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
609 609 6 290.00 $290.00 $1,766 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
983–1491 1154 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 448 2,850.00–3,800.00 $3,181.31
1230 1230 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 2,010.00 $2,010.00
1133–1439 1260 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 383 3,100.00–4,125.00 $3,728.73
1253–1442 1322 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 296 1,850.00–2,375.00 $2,085.38
1161–1487 1333 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 238 2,500.00–3,450.00 $2,723.55
1210–1434 1352 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 178 1,850.00–2,300.00 $2,123.75
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1535 1535 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,800.00 $2,800.00
1507–1650 1574 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 2,800.00–3,075.00 $2,935.64

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
962–1223 1114 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1,350 2,950.00–3,600.00 $3,282.71
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
938–1070 996 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 2,800.00–2,900.00 $2,852.73

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1439 1439 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
1586–1628 1598 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 14 2,700.00–2,800.00 $2,729.11 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1314 1314 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 15 2,950.00 $2,950.00 —

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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.