Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 24, 2023

2,945 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $256.27/cwt -1.00 vs last sale · ≈ $2,358/hd at 920 lb · 729 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $244.78/cwt +6.61 vs last sale · ≈ $2,116/hd at 864 lb · 304 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $262.31/cwt -12.19 vs last sale · ≈ $2,188/hd at 834 lb · 224 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,945 3,000 4,890
Feeder cattle 2,945 3,000 4,890

No recent test of market for an accurate comparison a trend will not be given for steers or heifers. Demand was good with several buyers today at the barn and active internet bidding. Another hot and humid day in the Sandhills of Nebraska, with temperatures over 100 degrees most of the week, cattle conditions in favor of buyers today. Next Auction Dates for Sept 7th, 14th and 28th

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
464 464 8 335.00 $335.00 $1,554
578–593 585 36 296.00–310.00 $303.30 $1,774 +2.80
655–690 682 152 291.00–296.00 $292.04 $1,992 +17.47
720–734 723 99 272.00–287.50 $283.85 $2,052
797 797 71 263.00 $263.00 $2,096
802–847 834 224 255.50–265.00 $262.31 $2,188 -12.19
863 863 72 255.00 $255.00 $2,201 -21.85
903–940 920 729 250.00–260.50 $256.27 $2,358 -1.00
958 958 61 250.25 $250.25 $2,397 -2.32
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
666 666 9 276.00 $276.00 $1,838

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 12 291.00 $291.00 $1,243
516 thin fleshed 516 75 298.50 $298.50 $1,540
563 thin fleshed 563 100 288.25 $288.25 $1,623
629 thin fleshed 629 75 285.00 $285.00 $1,793
635 635 92 289.00 $289.00 $1,835 +19.50
731–733 732 165 250.50–262.50 $259.44 $1,899 -2.87
774–781 779 139 248.00–255.00 $254.10 $1,979 -11.40
790 790 72 247.50 $247.50 $1,955 -18.00
858 858 131 246.00 $246.00 $2,111 +7.83
856–883 869 173 234.00–246.75 $243.85 $2,119 +5.68
904–945 933 65 228.50–238.00 $233.40 $2,178 -0.04
956 956 27 234.50 $234.50 $2,242 +5.50
1001 1001 6 211.00 $211.00 $2,112
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
563 563 17 275.00 $275.00 $1,548 ±0.00
639 639 24 262.00 $262.00 $1,674
690 thin fleshed 690 31 256.00 $256.00 $1,766
717 717 15 247.00 $247.00 $1,771

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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.