Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 16, 2023

3,890 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $287.81/cwt +2.80 vs last sale · ≈ $1,658/hd at 576 lb · 501 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $313.40/cwt +12.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,670/hd at 533 lb · 307 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $331.36/cwt +2.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,600/hd at 483 lb · 304 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,890 3,525 3,620
Feeder cattle 3,890 3,525 3,620

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared with last week 500 and 550 lbs steers traded 2.00 to 15.00 higher and 600 lbs steers traded 4.00 lower. Heifer offerings 500 lbs traded 2.00 lower. Demand was good with several buyers and active internet bidding for offerings today of Yearlings weaned and non-weaned calves. Next Auction Date Dec 7th Weaned Spring Calf Auction

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
363–379 374 43 337.50–344.00 $339.77 $1,271 +20.75
418–444 432 124 330.00–346.00 $337.88 $1,460 +8.82
438 thin fleshed 438 40 364.00 $364.00 $1,594 +23.00
465–490 483 304 326.00–339.00 $331.36 $1,600 +11.39
503–544 533 307 299.00–318.50 $313.40 $1,670 +15.92
551–597 576 501 280.00–301.00 $287.81 $1,658 +2.80
615 fancy 615 59 278.00 $278.00 $1,710 —
600–649 634 218 256.00–267.00 $260.13 $1,649 -4.43
650–689 667 96 256.50–267.00 $261.19 $1,742 +3.98
849 849 19 235.50 $235.50 $1,999 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–365 359 20 322.50 $322.50 $1,158 —
416–442 429 35 307.50–320.00 $315.79 $1,355 +4.79
461–479 465 37 307.00–319.00 $316.30 $1,471 +21.22
543–548 545 105 287.00–296.50 $294.75 $1,606 +19.09
597–598 597 24 262.00–266.00 $263.50 $1,573 -1.50
649 649 18 254.00 $254.00 $1,648 ±0.00
694 694 23 246.00 $246.00 $1,707 +5.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 12 320.00 $320.00 $1,056 +26.15
375–399 391 70 282.50–300.00 $288.95 $1,130 +9.15
403–422 419 46 277.50–284.00 $283.05 $1,186 +9.46
472–477 475 94 273.00–274.50 $273.80 $1,301 -0.32
500–535 524 122 256.50–267.00 $260.98 $1,368 -2.33
532 532 18 291.00 $291.00 $1,548 +27.69
572–597 580 114 250.00–256.50 $253.74 $1,472 -11.31
582 582 13 291.00 $291.00 $1,694 +25.95
718 718 56 231.50 $231.50 $1,662 —
779–786 781 70 221.00–230.50 $223.31 $1,744 —
804–843 827 184 226.00–238.50 $234.43 $1,939 —
858–872 867 59 222.00–229.00 $227.69 $1,974 —
918–940 928 186 221.50–230.75 $226.37 $2,101 —
965 965 8 211.00 $211.00 $2,036 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414–441 431 78 255.00–276.00 $262.80 $1,133 -1.20
483 483 22 257.00 $257.00 $1,241 -6.18
531–535 533 38 239.00–246.00 $242.30 $1,291 -6.50
555–590 575 40 234.00–238.00 $236.34 $1,359 -10.98
643 643 28 224.00 $224.00 $1,440 —
661–670 665 22 210.00–219.00 $214.28 $1,425 —
735–745 739 16 215.00–224.00 $220.03 $1,626 —
914–938 929 39 219.00–219.50 $219.36 $2,038 —

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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.