Five-Weight Steers Roar to Record Highs: Bassett and Torrington Lead Historic Surge  (CLARA)

Five-weight steers roared back to record heights on Wednesday, setting a new all-time daily average high of $359.62 per hundredweight...

Rob Cook, RobCookKC@gmail.com

Five-Weight Steers Roar to Record Highs: Bassett and Torrington Lead Historic Surge

Five-weight steers roared back to record heights on Wednesday, setting a new all-time daily average high of $359.62 per hundredweight. Despite the drop in futures on Monday and Tuesday, the cash feeder market surged, with aggressive buyer demand pushing 5-weight prices into uncharted territory. This marks a $10.24 increase over Tuesday’s $349.38, signaling resilience in the feeder market even amid broader market fluctuations.

The Bassett Livestock Auction in Nebraska led the charge, posting an all-time record sale of 226 steers at $412.00 per hundredweight, arguably the best feeder cattle sale in U.S. history. An additional 30 steers at the same market brought $405.00, further solidifying Bassett’s dominance in the feeder cattle sector. Torrington Livestock Market in Wyoming also set historic records, with its top sale of 11 steers at $404.00 marking the highest-ever price for 5-weights at that location. Another group of 68 steers at Torrington sold for $396.00, confirming the extraordinary demand for top-quality feeder cattle.

The record-breaking sales weren’t limited to Nebraska and Wyoming. Hub City Livestock in Aberdeen, SD, recorded the second-highest 5-weight sale in their history at $403.00. Meanwhile, Sterling Livestock in Colorado shattered records, posting their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th highest 5-weight sales of all time. In Iowa, Creston Livestock saw its highest 5-weight sale in history, while Toppenish, WA, sold five of their top ten highest 5-weight sales ever in a single day. This unprecedented level of demand highlights strong fundamentals in the feeder market, with buyers willing to pay historic premiums despite volatility in the futures market.

The record-breaking action across multiple states reflects extreme demand for lighter-weight cattle and suggests that feeder values remain well-supported. With new all-time highs set at Bassett, Torrington, Creston, and multiple other locations, the market momentum for lightweight cattle remains overwhelmingly bullish. Even as futures struggle with fluctuations, the cash feeder market continues to post historic prices, reinforcing the strength of buyer demand in the current cattle cycle.