Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 8, 2022

1,815 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,815 3,710 2,235
Feeder cattle 3,710
Replacement cattle 1,815 2,235

Another cold day in the Sandhills of NE, with a very welcomed wet snow. Today's Bred cow and Heifer auction consisted of several lots of Sandhill raised AI and bull bred replacement heifers. Calving Date starting Feb to Mar. The auction followed with Dispersions and then all ages of Bred Females. Next Auction Date Dec. 15th

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1152–1306 1256 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 100 1,525.00–1,850.00 $1,757.35
1060–1694 1257 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 86 1,050.00–1,400.00 $1,284.91
1100–1472 1259 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 49 1,385.00–1,425.00 $1,403.45
1107–1557 1359 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 227 725.00–1,185.00 $958.70
1323–1410 1376 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 83 1,500.00–1,600.00 $1,563.46
1278–1612 1381 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 112 825.00–1,250.00 $1,125.67
1401–1427 1406 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 54 1,100.00–1,185.00 $1,167.43
1558 1558 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 34 1,600.00 $1,600.00

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
930 930 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,160.00 $1,160.00
969–1272 1078 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 353 1,600.00–2,200.00 $1,973.90
1028–1233 1113 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 459 1,700.00–2,200.00 $1,939.29
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
869–993 918 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 70 1,325.00–1,525.00 $1,412.55
1076 1076 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,635.00 $1,635.00

↑ 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.