Brett Wessler  |   January 17, 2012

A survey of industry professionals predicts cash cattle to remain steady this week, expecting an increase of a mere 2 cents to $123.10 per cwt. Cash cattle trade went against the sentiment last week by gaining $2.13.

The Monday Market Sentiment is a forecast of the upcoming weekly cash trade (5-Area weighted average price) prices reported by the USDA. Cash cattle prices jumped higher last week, increasing to $123.08 per cwt.

Cash trade increased, ending two weeks of consecutive losses. Packer and feeding margins improved last week but feeders still lost an average of $14 on every animal sold. Cash prices are over $15 more than they were a year ago. 

Each week the Cattle Trader Center, on behalf of Vance Publishing, awards a $100 gift certificate from Cabela's to the industry leader whose forecast comes closest to the 5-Area cash trade number reported by the USDA. The most recent winner was Mark Engler, Cactus Feeders.