Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 12, 2024

4,380 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $247.17/cwt -1.17 vs last sale · ≈ $2,314/hd at 936 lb · 540 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $260.00/cwt +8.90 vs last sale · ≈ $2,140/hd at 823 lb · 483 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $238.63/cwt +4.65 vs last sale · ≈ $2,358/hd at 988 lb · 397 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,380 3,630 2,700
Feeder cattle 4,380 3,630 2,700

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared with two weeks ago 700 to 1000 lbs steers traded 4.00 to 10.00 higher with the exception of 900 lbs steers trading steady. Demand was good with several buyers today. Very strong winds in the area and high concern for prairie fire. Next Auction Date Oct 3rd & 10th

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
539 539 6 306.00 $306.00 $1,649 +21.00
568–586 574 34 297.00–300.50 $299.34 $1,718 -4.16
605–636 630 49 291.50–294.00 $291.94 $1,839 -0.63
656–679 662 113 278.00–292.00 $288.05 $1,907 -2.95
716–744 719 285 271.50–289.50 $279.48 $2,009 +4.06
786–787 787 257 262.75–275.00 $268.44 $2,113 +8.08
813–840 823 483 247.00–265.00 $260.00 $2,140 +8.90
852–889 866 310 248.50–265.75 $257.44 $2,229 +6.98
922–949 936 540 245.75–250.75 $247.17 $2,314 -1.17
957–997 988 397 236.00–245.00 $238.63 $2,358 +4.65
1010–1041 1011 174 220.00–238.35 $237.48 $2,401 +10.74
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
615 615 8 283.00 $283.00 $1,740 +12.59
750–798 785 19 254.00–255.00 $254.25 $1,996 —
878 878 6 237.00 $237.00 $2,081 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
528 528 37 285.00 $285.00 $1,505 +0.50
583–598 587 30 275.00–279.00 $277.91 $1,631 —
603–611 604 94 267.00–271.50 $270.77 $1,635 —
653–679 663 168 253.50–268.00 $260.10 $1,724 +9.11
720–726 723 159 264.00–265.00 $264.52 $1,912 +12.48
733–742 739 22 238.50–240.00 $239.11 $1,767 -12.93
762–793 777 23 231.00–239.00 $234.84 $1,825 -10.16
797 797 59 245.50 $245.50 $1,957 +0.50
804 804 198 250.75 $250.75 $2,016 +18.45
806–838 814 45 221.00–229.50 $227.56 $1,852 -4.74
871–890 878 46 223.50–230.00 $226.90 $1,992 -2.29
916 916 126 233.50 $233.50 $2,139 +4.38
902–949 929 44 224.00–229.50 $226.98 $2,109 -2.14
957–999 983 22 216.00–225.50 $221.20 $2,174 +4.20
1035 1035 6 220.00 $220.00 $2,277 +2.50
1053–1099 1075 45 215.00–218.75 $216.12 $2,323 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
533 533 5 273.00 $273.00 $1,455 —
763–794 787 21 230.00–234.50 $231.04 $1,818 —

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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.