Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 16, 2021

4,570 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $159.12/cwt -3.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,407/hd at 884 lb · 649 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $158.28/cwt -3.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,448/hd at 915 lb · 647 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $156.08/cwt -3.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,501/hd at 962 lb · 413 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,570 3,260 4,760
Feeder cattle 4,570 3,260 4,760

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago, steers sold steady to 3.00 lower. Light weight yearling heifers sold steady; over 750 lbs sold 3.00 to 7.00 lower. Despite the lower market, bidding was active with several buyers in attendance and some lots were sold to internet buyers. Several buyers stayed to the end of the sale to fill loads. Most consignments coming off summer grass. Several lots sold with weigh-up conditions in buyers favor. Quite a few preg checked open heifers from area ranchers’ replacement herds in the run.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
659 659 21 169.00 $169.00 $1,114 -4.49
720–740 729 52 160.50–164.50 $161.25 $1,176 -7.55
774–791 783 138 160.50–168.75 $166.20 $1,301 -2.58
822 fancy 822 188 175.00 $175.00 $1,438 —
806–833 828 169 160.00–166.25 $162.85 $1,348 -6.63
856–896 884 649 155.00–162.25 $159.12 $1,407 -3.03
904–926 915 647 155.50–161.00 $158.28 $1,448 -3.39
954–974 962 413 150.50–160.10 $156.08 $1,501 -3.04
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
996–997 997 140 146.75–151.75 $150.47 $1,500 —
1001–1005 1003 222 151.50–152.75 $152.09 $1,525 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
613 613 18 167.00 $167.00 $1,024 —
673 673 12 166.00 $166.00 $1,117 —
780–793 784 55 147.50–157.50 $155.33 $1,218 -2.67
816–844 837 24 157.00–158.50 $158.13 $1,324 -0.96
931 931 7 151.00 $151.00 $1,406 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
584 584 38 162.25 $162.25 $948 -0.75
607–634 625 124 169.50 $169.50 $1,059 +8.43
673–690 679 87 161.00–164.75 $163.48 $1,110 +1.31
698–699 699 98 162.50 $162.50 $1,136 +0.33
718 718 15 154.50 $154.50 $1,109 -6.88
757–779 766 78 150.50–154.00 $153.19 $1,173 -6.48
756–789 782 121 150.25–153.00 $150.80 $1,179 -8.87
809 809 76 146.75 $146.75 $1,187 -5.11
800–841 817 64 144.00–148.75 $146.90 $1,200 -4.96
872–880 876 176 142.75–147.50 $145.48 $1,274 -6.48
857–897 880 182 138.75–145.50 $141.42 $1,244 -10.54
903–938 922 94 134.00–144.75 $139.61 $1,287 -10.35
955 955 65 139.75 $139.75 $1,335 -12.50
968–985 976 67 136.50–141.75 $139.78 $1,364 -3.83
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
877 877 46 145.50 $145.50 $1,276 —
901 901 120 149.25 $149.25 $1,345 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
596 596 8 157.00 $157.00 $936 —
636 636 30 150.50 $150.50 $957 —
715 715 18 145.00 $145.00 $1,037 —
772–783 780 48 143.00–146.50 $145.86 $1,138 -4.14
875 875 18 141.00 $141.00 $1,234 —

↑ Back to top

Reading this report

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.