Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 5, 2024

2,900 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $334.56/cwt +16.80 vs last sale · ≈ $2,084/hd at 623 lb · 429 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $374.67/cwt +37.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,985/hd at 530 lb · 406 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $405.91/cwt +3.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,741/hd at 429 lb · 260 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,900 2,920 3,590
Feeder cattle 2,900 2,920 3,590

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared with two weeks ago steers and heifers traded sharply higher. Demand was very good for weaned and non-weaned offerings, with several buyers and active internet bidding. Next Auction Date Dec 12th 16th and 19th

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
327 327 23 447.50 $447.50 $1,463 —
367–388 375 21 405.00–410.00 $408.03 $1,530 +36.88
407–431 429 260 382.50–410.00 $405.91 $1,741 +3.91
455–466 458 103 372.50–396.00 $388.59 $1,780 +31.37
510–542 528 285 361.00–379.50 $371.14 $1,960 +33.86
534 fancy 534 121 383.00 $383.00 $2,045 —
551–595 579 151 356.00–370.00 $360.76 $2,089 +32.85
605–638 623 429 322.00–352.50 $334.56 $2,084 +23.45
653–699 679 179 304.00–320.00 $312.48 $2,122 +12.05
720–741 730 160 290.00–303.50 $299.22 $2,184 +18.72
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–399 366 15 360.00–397.50 $383.89 $1,405 +28.89
415–449 438 22 267.50–380.00 $353.21 $1,547 -6.37
465–498 495 86 347.00–367.00 $349.25 $1,729 +1.40
512–524 520 55 340.00–355.00 $345.24 $1,795 +20.83
560–598 574 27 316.00–337.00 $322.43 $1,851 +10.72
617–642 628 31 301.00–320.00 $315.10 $1,979 +27.13
721 721 10 284.50 $284.50 $2,051 +21.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385–387 386 47 362.50–365.00 $364.20 $1,406 +41.70
419 thin fleshed 419 39 370.00 $370.00 $1,550 —
405–444 435 75 343.00–357.50 $350.55 $1,525 +19.84
452 thin fleshed 452 24 372.50 $372.50 $1,684 —
457–499 481 100 340.00–355.00 $345.38 $1,661 +20.79
506–527 516 44 311.00–322.00 $314.56 $1,623 +5.45
541 fancy 541 90 358.00 $358.00 $1,937 —
566–583 570 48 294.00–303.00 $295.92 $1,687 +6.31
681 681 10 279.00 $279.00 $1,900 +3.00
708 708 15 257.00 $257.00 $1,820 +15.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 8 370.00 $370.00 $1,284 —
619–633 623 18 277.00–280.00 $277.85 $1,731 +19.85
784 784 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,999 —
1035 1035 5 216.00 $216.00 $2,236 —

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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.