This week's market was lightly tested with only two auctions reporting. However, higher undertones were noted at both sales. Buyer demand was good to very good. CME live cattle and feeder cattle boards traded sharply higher that helped boost the market. Nebraska feedlots hit a new milestone with record prices for steers and heifers on a cash basis. Who knows, it might be another record this week? Nebraska dressed sales sold 5.00 to 6.00 higher from 285.00 to 292.00 and live sales sold 3.00 to 6.00 higher from 183.00 to 188.00 with a few up to 190.00. Packers continue to seek out cash cattle to fill slaughter needs. Hip pocket (forward contract) cattle as of last week was at 109,000 head compared to 155,000 head nationally last year. Scattered rains across the state with most areas in the eastern 1/3 still in the exceptional drought category.
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 8 | — | 871 | 189.00 | 189.00 |
| 11 | — | 665 | 219.50 | 219.50 |
| 158 | — | 741 | 205.00–210.25 | 209.91 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 5 | — | 774 | 183.00 | 183.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Guaranteed Open$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 20 | — | 528 | 261.75 | 261.75 |
| 21 | — | 861 | 186.50 | 186.50 |
| 71 | — | 620 | 249.00 | 249.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Spayed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 42 | — | 756 | 216.00 | 216.00 |
| 82 | — | 807 | 203.75–213.00 | 211.65 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 23 | — | 487 | 236.00–259.00 | 249.94 |
| 34 | — | 587 | 216.00–248.00 | 243.28 |
| 8 | — | 429 | 245.00 | 245.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 73 | — | 733 | 214.00–219.00 | 217.63 |
| 174 | — | 808 | 208.50–217.00 | 214.08 |
| 70 | — | 860 | 211.75–212.00 | 211.89 |
| 18 | — | 522 | 248.50–256.00 | 251.73 |
| 69 | — | 774 | 205.00–214.50 | 209.61 |
| 5 | — | 331 | 291.00 | 291.00 |
| 27 | — | 371 | 254.00–268.00 | 261.25 |
| 47 | — | 484 | 242.50–270.00 | 260.36 |
| 23 | — | 437 | 242.50–267.00 | 250.02 |
| 10 | — | 692 | 220.00 | 220.00 |
| 94 | — | 642 | 226.00–237.00 | 232.98 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 24 | — | 537 | 210.00–241.00 | 228.91 |
| 30 | — | 624 | 211.00–221.00 | 214.67 |
| 18 | — | 473 | 222.50–232.50 | 227.79 |
| 34 | — | 441 | 241.00–247.00 | 245.21 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 10 | — | 508 | 270.00 | 270.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 10 | — | 488 | 287.00 | 287.00 |
| 16 | — | 666 | 240.00 | 240.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 8 | — | 419 | 281.00 | 281.00 |
| 5 | — | 930 | 188.00 | 188.00 |
| 6 | — | 878 | 198.00 | 198.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Natural$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 15 | — | 541 | 300.00 | 300.00 |
| 30 | — | 666 | 271.00 | 271.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 7 | — | 441 | 297.00 | 297.00 |
| 44 | — | 615 | 249.00–255.50 | 253.90 |
| 32 | — | 488 | 282.00–282.50 | 282.12 |
| 6 | — | 547 | 270.00 | 270.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 44 | — | 574 | 264.00–288.00 | 277.49 |
| 51 | — | 485 | 280.00–306.00 | 289.04 |
| 13 | — | 503 | 289.00 | 289.00 |
| 19 | — | 410 | 299.00–302.00 | 300.88 |
| 61 | — | 665 | 251.75 | 251.75 |
| 128 | — | 904 | 210.00 | 210.00 |
| 166 | — | 779 | 227.25–232.00 | 227.75 |
| 6 | — | 742 | 220.00 | 220.00 |
| 9 | — | 633 | 263.00 | 263.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 9 | — | 921 | 192.50 | 192.50 |
| 13 | — | 526 | 277.00–281.00 | 279.51 |
| 93 | — | 725 | 230.00–239.00 | 232.43 |
| 9 | — | 591 | 268.50 | 268.50 |
| 22 | — | 876 | 198.50–203.00 | 200.11 |
| 13 | — | 645 | 256.00 | 256.00 |
| 128 | — | 829 | 216.50 | 216.50 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 5 | — | 800 | 201.00 | 201.00 |