Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 10, 2020

1,875 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Valentine Livestock Auction report →

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,875 3,175 1,760
Feeder cattle 3,175
Replacement cattle 1,875 1,760

Today's bred cow and heifer auction consisted of several lots of Sandhill reputation offerings calving Feb and Mar. A good crowd on hand and several bids from the internet. Next Auction Dates for Dec. 17 Special Feeder Sale

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1200–1305 1246 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 47 1,650.00–1,910.00 $1,806.54
1199–1382 1298 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 24 820.00–900.00 $853.87
1075–1473 1317 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 161 1,385.00–1,650.00 $1,532.26
1248–1508 1332 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 58 1,100.00–1,325.00 $1,297.77
1177–1453 1347 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 200 850.00–1,075.00 $954.80
1231–1548 1360 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 158 785.00–975.00 $901.97
1370 1370 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,475.00 $1,475.00
1297–1535 1377 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 19 1,475.00–1,500.00 $1,492.66
1412–1526 1498 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,075.00–1,250.00 $1,116.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1072–1315 1177 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 33 1,325.00–1,400.00 $1,372.88

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1004–1022 1016 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,225.00–1,470.00 $1,383.50
886–1136 1018 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 353 1,350.00–1,960.00 $1,674.50
1031–1115 1079 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 254 1,650.00–1,925.00 $1,851.41

↑ Back to top

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.