Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 25, 2024

2,345 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $301.84/cwt +9.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,880/hd at 623 lb · 471 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $317.09/cwt +13.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,817/hd at 573 lb · 389 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $285.65/cwt +9.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,914/hd at 670 lb · 357 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,345 4,440 5,805
Feeder cattle 2,345 4,440 5,805

Compared with two weeks ago steers 550 to 700 lbs traded 3.00 to 14.00 higher with no comparable offerings for heifers. Demand was good with several buyers and active internet bidding. Warmer weather in the Sandhills this week after two weeks of snow and wind. Next Auction Dates Feb 1st, 8th, and 15th

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 377 22 381.00 $381.00 $1,436
439 439 37 353.00 $353.00 $1,550 +27.33
474–478 476 23 337.00–342.50 $339.64 $1,617 +20.85
510–520 518 93 338.00–341.00 $338.51 $1,753 +22.43
550–595 573 389 307.00–327.50 $317.09 $1,817 +13.84
608 fancy 608 80 312.00 $312.00 $1,897 +7.57
600–649 626 391 286.00–308.50 $299.76 $1,876 +14.69
659–677 666 196 266.00–286.00 $281.26 $1,873 +9.96
675 fancy 675 161 291.00 $291.00 $1,964 -1.00
717–738 719 139 248.00–266.75 $262.18 $1,885 +3.28
751–785 767 142 247.50–263.00 $255.62 $1,961 +10.12
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 6 330.00 $330.00 $1,634 +29.00
563 563 6 299.00 $299.00 $1,683 +18.47
645 645 18 281.00 $281.00 $1,812 +13.70
697 697 20 260.00 $260.00 $1,812 +3.68
751–795 782 33 236.00–240.00 $238.84 $1,868

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 12 317.50 $317.50 $1,356 +31.73
464–497 479 57 284.00–300.00 $288.20 $1,380 +1.72
538 538 9 275.00 $275.00 $1,480 -8.79
550–597 569 50 261.00–275.00 $269.55 $1,534 -21.45
607–641 637 99 257.00–258.00 $257.89 $1,643 +9.09
661–699 672 104 233.00–246.00 $238.51 $1,603 -8.49
752 752 11 220.00 $220.00 $1,654
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
591 591 7 241.00 $241.00 $1,424 -14.00
618–633 623 22 240.00–242.00 $241.35 $1,504
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
644 644 21 1,725.00 $1,725.00

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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.