Brett Wessler  |   December 13, 2011

The cash cattle market fell lower with beef prices declining and meat packers seeing margins shrink by more than $20 per head last week. This week’s survey predicts cash cattle prices to decrease by 86 cents to $119.66 per cwt.

The Monday Market Sentiment is a forecast of the upcoming weekly cash trade (5-Area weighted average price) prices reported by the USDA. Cash trade fell further than expected by industry experts, losing $4.36. Last week’s cash trade was $120.52.

Cash markets took a sharp decline last week impacted by cheaper wholesale beef prices and a global selloff in commodity markets. Cattle demand decreased as packers had enough supplies and market activity is expected to be idle through most of the week.

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 Joe Kovanda, Bartlett Cattle.