Brett Wessler  |   February 14, 2012

A survey of cattle-industry leaders suggests the average price for cash cattle will increase $1.02 to $124.01 per cwt this week. The optimistic prediction would end a three-week stretch of lower cash prices.

The Monday Market Sentiment is a forecast of the upcoming weekly cash trade (5-Area weighted average price) prices reported by the USDA. This week prices dropped lower for the third consecutive week, falling $2.74 in that time. Last week the USDA announced that cash trade for the week was $122.99, a 32 cent decrease from a week earlier.

Cash trade was lower last week, but a rally late in the week limited losses. The bulk of sales earlier in Kansas and Nebraska were steady to lower at $123. Reports of tighter cattle supplies for sale could give cash trading a boost as the week progresses. Lighter weights and fewer cattle could be a possibility in the feeder cattle market if feed costs continue higher.

Each week Drovers CattleNetwork 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 Ben Stromgren, Bartlett Cattle.