Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 3, 2023

3,000 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $257.27/cwt +0.73 vs last sale · ≈ $2,362/hd at 918 lb · 825 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $276.85/cwt +19.88 vs last sale · ≈ $2,434/hd at 879 lb · 414 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $274.50/cwt +9.50 vs last sale · ≈ $2,325/hd at 847 lb · 192 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,000 1,490 3,145
Feeder cattle 3,000 1,490 3,145

Compared with two weeks ago a high demand for 850 lb steers trading 19.00 higher, 900 to 950 lb steers trading steady, and 800 lb heifer offerings traded steady. Demand was good with several buyers and active internet bidding. Next Auction Date Aug 24th

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 546 12 313.00 $313.00 $1,709
585 585 34 300.50 $300.50 $1,758
601–615 605 109 290.50–291.00 $290.64 $1,758 -8.36
655–698 679 147 269.00–283.00 $274.57 $1,864
847 847 192 274.50 $274.50 $2,325 +9.50
872–888 879 414 275.75–278.25 $276.85 $2,434 +19.88
906–939 918 825 253.50–262.00 $257.27 $2,362 +0.73
953–973 963 109 250.00–255.25 $252.57 $2,432 +1.69
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
553 553 11 314.00 $314.00 $1,736
619 619 174 285.00 $285.00 $1,764 +2.00
713 713 52 264.00 $264.00 $1,882 -8.98
829 829 125 249.50 $249.50 $2,068
874–878 875 49 243.00–247.50 $246.85 $2,160
928 928 116 247.50 $247.50 $2,297

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
553 553 25 294.00 $294.00 $1,626
621 621 23 269.50 $269.50 $1,674 +7.50
708–737 732 159 260.00–264.50 $262.31 $1,920
766–775 774 84 258.00–266.50 $265.50 $2,055
802–844 815 107 235.00–248.75 $245.73 $2,003 -1.37
878–893 882 90 237.00–241.00 $238.17 $2,101
945–946 945 16 233.00–234.00 $233.44 $2,206
950 950 9 229.00 $229.00 $2,176
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505–517 509 26 268.00–285.00 $279.02 $1,420
576 576 33 275.00 $275.00 $1,584

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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.