Cattle Market Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report
Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Thursday, April 18, 20243,028 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 | 3,028 | 2,120 | 3,620 |
| Feeder cattle | 3,028 | 2,120 | 3,620 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 418–444 | 421 | 175 | 360.00–391.00 | $388.11 | $1,634 | +5.61 |
| 459–498 | 473 | 88 | 347.50–365.00 | $357.46 | $1,691 | +8.49 |
| 509 | 509 | 54 | 364.00 | $364.00 | $1,853 | — |
| 520–548 | 537 | 127 | 326.00–338.00 | $335.30 | $1,801 | +4.07 |
| 557–585 | 580 | 72 | 330.00–331.00 | $330.84 | $1,919 | -4.45 |
| 600–623 | 609 | 193 | 316.00–334.00 | $325.95 | $1,985 | +27.28 |
| 650–688 | 666 | 198 | 306.00–317.50 | $312.45 | $2,081 | +27.76 |
| 710–743 | 732 | 328 | 289.00–305.50 | $294.55 | $2,156 | +26.57 |
| 836–837 | 837 | 121 | 263.50–264.00 | $263.75 | $2,208 | — |
| 906 | 906 | 60 | 247.00 | $247.00 | $2,238 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 439 | 439 | 14 | 335.00 | $335.00 | $1,471 | -20.00 |
| 490–498 | 497 | 47 | 335.00–341.00 | $336.87 | $1,674 | — |
| 536 | 536 | 5 | 293.00 | $293.00 | $1,570 | — |
| 579–584 | 581 | 61 | 310.50–316.00 | $313.11 | $1,819 | +7.57 |
| 605–629 | 617 | 76 | 295.00–315.00 | $302.91 | $1,869 | — |
| 659–685 | 666 | 28 | 281.00–299.00 | $294.37 | $1,961 | +13.37 |
| 707–735 | 720 | 81 | 266.00–281.00 | $274.03 | $1,973 | — |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 376 | 376 | 14 | 327.50 | $327.50 | $1,231 | -5.37 |
| 414–442 | 422 | 30 | 330.00–334.00 | $332.74 | $1,404 | +6.19 |
| 458–474 | 466 | 62 | 307.00–319.00 | $312.92 | $1,458 | -16.82 |
| 503–543 | 528 | 161 | 299.00–322.00 | $305.99 | $1,616 | -9.03 |
| 550–595 | 573 | 253 | 272.00–298.00 | $282.10 | $1,616 | -5.62 |
| 605–635 | 624 | 116 | 275.00–282.00 | $278.60 | $1,738 | -10.85 |
| 624 | 624 | 58 | 291.50 | $291.50 | $1,819 | — |
| 668–693 | 680 | 119 | 248.00–268.00 | $253.42 | $1,723 | -2.05 |
| 704 | 704 | 83 | 272.00 | $272.00 | $1,915 | +10.21 |
| 713–748 | 734 | 35 | 228.50–246.00 | $234.03 | $1,718 | -16.44 |
| 804–845 | 816 | 42 | 209.00–211.00 | $210.08 | $1,714 | -8.41 |
| 893 | 893 | 7 | 213.00 | $213.00 | $1,902 | — |
| 1091 | 1091 | 7 | 182.00 | $182.00 | $1,986 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 391 | 391 | 5 | 310.00 | $310.00 | $1,212 | — |
| 448 | 448 | 14 | 319.00 | $319.00 | $1,429 | — |
| 607 | 607 | 11 | 264.00 | $264.00 | $1,602 | -7.72 |
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 two weeks ago, with a high demand for 600 lbs steers trading 25.00 higher. Heifer offerings 500 to 550 lbs traded 5.00 to 9.00 lower. Demand was good with very active internet bidding. Next Auction Date April 25th Regular Sale, May 9th Special Pair and Fall Bred Female. Rain showers and some snow this past week in the Sandhills.