Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers mostly steady. Light to moderate demand for this large offering of high quality grading steers and heifer, as not all packer buyers participated. CME Live Cattle contracts at 230.00, but with packer margins deteriorating the market was not very active. Boxed beef values continue their decline again today, down to 356.00 for Choice boxes. Cattle were carrying some tag as snows have been frequent, along with rain last week and above freezing temps have made it difficult to keep cattle dry. There was a large offering as the next slaughter cattle auction will be Tuesday Dec. 30, 2025.
Slaughter lambs under 100 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, over 100 lbs steady to 5.00 lower. Feeder lambs firm. Slaughter ewes steady. A very large offering of sheep and goats this week, the market was very active on those non-traditional weight slaughter lambs as there was very good demand for those kinds. Good demand yet for the traditional weight lambs, but there was a little pressure on the market. Very good demand remains for slaughter ewes. Good demand for the bred ewes. Very good demand for all weights and classes of goats.
| Class | Grade | Dressing | Avg wt | $/cwt | $/head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef/Dairy Heifers | Choice | Average | 1,531 | 219.02 | 3,353 | 56 |
| Beef/Dairy Steers | Choice | Average | 1,647 | 218.45 | 3,598 | 145 |
| Dairy Steers | Choice | Average | 1,571 | 205.58 | 3,230 | 14 |
| Heifers | Choice | Average | 1,421 | 222.79 | 3,165 | 609 |
| Steers | Select | Average | 1,233 | 240.00 | 2,959 | 4thin |
| Steers | Choice | Average | 1,613 | 222.83 | 3,594 | 825 |
| Steers | Select and Choice | Average | 1,471 | 218.00 | 3,207 | 7thin |
| Class | Grade / description | Weight | Avg wt | Price | Range | Per head | Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef/Dairy Heifers | Choice | — | 1,531 | 219.02/cwt | 211.50–223.25 | 3,353 | 56 |
| Beef/Dairy Steers | Choice | — | 1,647 | 218.45/cwt | 216.50–221.00 | 3,598 | 145 |
| Dairy Steers | Choice | — | 1,571 | 205.58/cwt | 203.00–208.00 | 3,230 | 14 |
| Steers | Select and Choice | — | 1,471 | 218.00/cwt | 218.00–218.00 | 3,207 | 7 |
| Steers | Choice | — | 1,469 | 224.43/cwt | 222.00–225.50 | 3,297 | 52 |
| Steers | Choice | — | 1,535 | 221.57/cwt | 219.00–223.00 | 3,401 | 54 |
| Steers | ChoiceCertified Prgms | — | 1,563 | 224.17/cwt | 220.50–226.75 | 3,504 | 222 |
| Steers | SelectReturn to Feed | — | 1,233 | 240.00/cwt | 240.00–240.00 | 2,959 | 4 |
| Steers | ChoiceHeavy Weight | — | 1,709 | 221.47/cwt | 220.00–225.00 | 3,785 | 391 |
| Steers | ChoiceCertified Prgms | — | 1,473 | 224.88/cwt | 217.00–228.50 | 3,312 | 106 |
| Heifers | Choice | — | 1,428 | 222.99/cwt | 218.00–228.00 | 3,184 | 398 |
| Heifers | ChoiceCertified Prgms | — | 1,407 | 222.40/cwt | 217.00–228.00 | 3,129 | 211 |
Compared to last week: Slaughter steers and heifers mostly steady. Light to moderate demand for this large offering of high quality grading steers and heifer, as not all packer buyers participated. CME Live Cattle contracts at 230.00, but with packer margins deteriorating the market was not very active. Boxed beef values continue their decline again today, down to 356.00 for Choice boxes. Cattle were carrying some tag as snows have been frequent, along with rain last week and above freezing temps have made it difficult to keep cattle dry. There was a large offering as the next slaughter cattle auction will be Tuesday Dec. 30, 2025.
Slaughter lambs under 100 lbs 10.00 to 20.00 higher, over 100 lbs steady to 5.00 lower. Feeder lambs firm. Slaughter ewes steady. A very large offering of sheep and goats this week, the market was very active on those non-traditional weight slaughter lambs as there was very good demand for those kinds. Good demand yet for the traditional weight lambs, but there was a little pressure on the market. Very good demand remains for slaughter ewes. Good demand for the bred ewes. Very good demand for all weights and classes of goats.
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef/Dairy Heifers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 56 | — | 1,531 | 211.50–223.25 | 219.02 |
| Beef/Dairy Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 145 | — | 1,647 | 216.50–221.00 | 218.45 |
| Dairy Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 14 | — | 1,571 | 203.00–208.00 | 205.58 |
| Steers — Select and Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 7 | — | 1,471 | 218.00 | 218.00 |
| Steers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 52 | — | 1,469 | 222.00–225.50 | 224.43 |
| 54 | — | 1,535 | 219.00–223.00 | 221.57 |
| Steers — Choice · Certified Prgms$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 222 | — | 1,563 | 220.50–226.75 | 224.17 |
| 106 | — | 1,473 | 217.00–228.50 | 224.88 |
| Steers — Select · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 4 | — | 1,233 | 240.00 | 240.00 |
| Steers — Choice · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 391 | — | 1,709 | 220.00–225.00 | 221.47 |
| Heifers — Choice$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 398 | — | 1,428 | 218.00–228.00 | 222.99 |
| Heifers — Choice · Certified Prgms$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 211 | — | 1,407 | 217.00–228.00 | 222.40 |