The Ericson Spalding Livestock Auction, Ericson, Neb., reported receipts of 3,650 head Dec. 17, compared to 4,100 head last week and 5,000 head last year, according to the USDA Market News Service, Ericson, Neb.

Compared to last week, steers and heifers trended steady to firm with heifers advancing the most. Demand and trade activity was very good. Most all offerings consisted of one iron home raised cattle. Receipts consisted of 69% steers and 31% heifers, with 52% of the total feeders weighing over 600 pounds.

Feeder steers: Medium and large frame 1, 6 head, 392 lbs., 169.00; 7 head, 382 lbs., 190.00 thin; 400 to 434 lbs., 160.50 to 179.00 (167.96); 452 to 498 lbs., 142.00 to 164.00 (149.48); 525 to 545 lbs., 135.75 to 143.50 (138.45); 37 head, 526 lbs., 146.25 fancy; 17 head, 546 lbs., 125.50 full; 509 to 512 lbs., 150.00 to 154.75 (154.22) thin; 558 to 592 lbs., 130.50 to 138.75 (134.35); 9 head, 591 lbs., 128.00 full; 600 to 612 lbs., 131.25 to 134.50 (133.38); 604 to 636 lbs., 129.25 to 133.50 (132.08) calves; 635 to 639 lbs., 123.00 to 126.75 (124.79) full; 650 to 699 lbs., 121.25 to 125.75 (124.20); 18 head, 657 to 672 lbs., 120.25 to 126.75 (124.91) calves; 656 to 682 lbs., 115.25 to 118.75 (116.74) full; 729 to 749 lbs., 115.75 to 118.75 (118.05); 700 to 719 lbs., 120.25 calves; 763 to 799 lbs., 112.75 to 113.75 (113.56); 80 head, 753 lbs., 123.75 fancy; 818 to 847 lbs., 111.75 to 113.00 (112.36). Medium and large frame 1 to 2, 9 head, 338 lbs., 161.00 to 162.00 (161.44); 8 head, 431 lbs., 158.00; 543 to 549 lbs., 122.00 to 126.00 (125.21). Large frame 1, 6 head, 430 lbs., 155.00; 22 head, 544 lbs., 128.50; 20 head, 575 to 584 lbs., 121.00 to 126.50 (123.50); 620 to 649 lbs., 123.25 to 126.25 (125.70); 15 head, 607 to 620 lbs., 110.00 to 120.00 (116.05) calves; 14 head, 654 lbs., 120.00.

Feeder steers: Medium and large frame 1, 6 head, 392 lbs., 169.00; 7 head, 382 lbs., 190.00 thin; 400 to 434 lbs., 160.50 to 179.00 (167.96); 452 to 498 lbs., 142.00 to 164.00 (149.48); 525 to 545 lbs., 135.75 to 143.50 (138.45); 37 head, 526 lbs., 146.25 fancy; 17 head, 546 lbs., 125.50 full; 509 to 512 lbs., 150.00 to 154.75 (154.22) thin; 558 to 592 lbs., 130.50 to 138.75 (134.35); 9 head, 591 lbs., 128.00 full; 600 to 612 lbs., 131.25 to 134.50 (133.38); 604 to 636 lbs., 129.25 to 133.50 (132.08) calves; 635 to 639 lbs., 123.00 to 126.75 (124.79) full; 650 to 699 lbs., 121.25 to 125.75 (124.20); 18 head, 657 to 672 lbs., 120.25 to 126.75 (124.91) calves; 656 to 682 lbs., 115.25 to 118.75 (116.74) full; 729 to 749 lbs., 115.75 to 118.75 (118.05); 700 to 719 lbs., 120.25 calves; 763 to 799 lbs., 112.75 to 113.75 (113.56); 80 head, 753 lbs., 123.75 fancy; 818 to 847 lbs., 111.75 to 113.00 (112.36). Medium and large frame 1 to 2, 9 head, 338 lbs., 161.00 to 162.00 (161.44); 8 head, 431 lbs., 158.00; 543 to 549 lbs., 122.00 to 126.00 (125.21). Large frame 1, 6 head, 430 lbs., 155.00; 22 head, 544 lbs., 128.50; 20 head, 575 to 584 lbs., 121.00 to 126.50 (123.50); 620 to 649 lbs., 123.25 to 126.25 (125.70); 15 head, 607 to 620 lbs., 110.00 to 120.00 (116.05) calves; 14 head, 654 lbs., 120.00.