Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 4, 2024

2,190 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $323.13/cwt +3.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,709/hd at 529 lb · 374 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $262.87/cwt -2.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,782/hd at 678 lb · 252 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $285.59/cwt -7.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,782/hd at 624 lb · 228 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,190 1,855 2,340
Feeder cattle 2,190 1,855 2,340

Compared with two weeks ago, 550 to 700 lbs steers traded unevenly steady, no comparable offerings for heifers. Demand was good with active internet bidding. Next Auction Date Jan 11th 18th and 25th

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356 356 9 357.50 $357.50 $1,273
413 413 27 351.00 $351.00 $1,450 +6.80
464–477 468 63 352.00–353.00 $352.66 $1,650 +27.90
508–548 529 374 315.50–336.00 $323.13 $1,709 -0.08
565–587 584 126 305.00–312.00 $306.02 $1,787 -0.55
600–645 624 228 278.50–293.00 $285.59 $1,782 -7.63
655–699 678 252 249.50–278.50 $262.87 $1,782 +1.92
726–749 734 218 239.00–251.50 $246.45 $1,809 -5.58
781 781 52 239.75 $239.75 $1,872 -3.25
812–842 815 75 224.50–232.50 $231.62 $1,888
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430–449 439 21 326.00–339.00 $332.67 $1,460 +62.50
488 488 15 321.00 $321.00 $1,566 +14.00
620–642 634 56 265.00–273.00 $270.22 $1,713 -4.73
722 722 5 220.00 $220.00 $1,588

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 377 11 325.00 $325.00 $1,225 +3.00
439–440 439 46 309.00–315.00 $313.69 $1,377 +39.42
451–490 482 78 297.00–311.50 $303.76 $1,464 +10.76
507–548 516 50 285.00–293.50 $290.72 $1,500 +9.72
551–598 571 117 249.00–280.00 $265.09 $1,514 -4.91
635 635 30 248.00 $248.00 $1,575 -1.87
677 677 58 261.00 $261.00 $1,767 +8.67
690 690 41 252.00 $252.00 $1,739 -0.33
704 704 20 237.00 $237.00 $1,668 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
503–543 521 20 260.00–272.00 $266.37 $1,388
618 618 10 199.00 $199.00 $1,230
838 838 10 200.00 $200.00 $1,676

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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.