Cattle Market Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report
Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Thursday, October 12, 20231,790 head sold ·Official USDA report
This is an archived report. See the latest Valentine Livestock Auction report →
Receipts
| Head | This sale | Last sale | Last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | 1,790 | 1,325 | 3,685 |
| Feeder cattle | 1,790 | 1,325 | 3,685 |
Market comments — USDA reporter
New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓
Feeder Steers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 323 | 323 | 12 | 342.50 | $342.50 | $1,106 | — |
| 391 | 391 | 16 | 375.00 | $375.00 | $1,466 | -22.50 |
| 407–445 | 427 | 152 | 353.00–374.50 | $362.27 | $1,547 | +27.19 |
| 457–482 | 468 | 137 | 338.00–345.00 | $340.30 | $1,593 | +1.71 |
| 509–539 | 522 | 438 | 317.00–330.50 | $327.03 | $1,707 | -1.69 |
| 576–593 | 582 | 355 | 289.00–300.00 | $294.17 | $1,712 | -16.73 |
| 611–636 | 622 | 163 | 273.00–286.50 | $280.31 | $1,744 | -8.48 |
| 632 | 632 | 78 | 292.00 | $292.00 | $1,845 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 426 | 426 | 5 | 336.00 | $336.00 | $1,431 | — |
| 547–548 | 548 | 25 | 276.00–287.00 | $278.20 | $1,525 | -23.84 |
| 564 | 564 | 5 | 286.00 | $286.00 | $1,613 | +9.14 |
| 610 | 610 | 22 | 271.00 | $271.00 | $1,653 | — |
| 622 | 622 | 11 | 262.00 | $262.00 | $1,630 | — |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 313 | 313 | 6 | 292.00 | $292.00 | $914 | — |
| 409–441 | 418 | 58 | 277.00–286.00 | $280.87 | $1,174 | -27.13 |
| 471–475 | 473 | 72 | 264.00–283.00 | $273.73 | $1,295 | -25.99 |
| 544 | 544 | 92 | 272.00 | $272.00 | $1,480 | -25.52 |
| 603–611 | 607 | 18 | 245.00–250.00 | $247.24 | $1,501 | -15.76 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 403 | 403 | 6 | 256.00 | $256.00 | $1,032 | — |
| 528 | 528 | 6 | 248.00 | $248.00 | $1,309 | -17.63 |
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.
A limited number of comparable offerings from last Thursdays Auction with 500 to 550 lbs steers trading steady to 16.00 lower. Demand was good with active internet bidding. Heavy rain in the area with high winds all day at the barn, conditions in favor of buyer today. Next Auction Monday, Oct 16th Weigh Ups and Bred Cows and Fall Pairs, Oct 19th Special Spring Calf Auction