Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, July 23, 2026

1,645 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $371.18/cwt ≈ $3,289/hd at 886 lb · 397 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $352.09/cwt ≈ $3,278/hd at 931 lb · 306 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $351.11/cwt ≈ $3,402/hd at 969 lb · 299 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,645 540 1,727
Feeder cattle 1,645 — 1,727
Replacement cattle — 540 —

Compared to two weeks ago, heifer offerings at the Valentine Livestock Auction were limited, no trend will be provided. The majority of steer offerings, weighing 900 to 950 lbs consisted of home-raised cattle or those purchased from one ranch, traded 9.00 to 14.00 lower. These declines are primarily attributed to the sharp losses in the CME cattle futures over the past two weeks. Market conditions were in the buyers' favor, as most cattle were coming off short, dry pasture grass from the Nebraska Sandhills. Next Auction Dates for Aug. 6th & 27th Special Feeder Sale

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
646 646 18 441.00 $441.00 $2,849 —
663 663 36 436.00 $436.00 $2,891 —
843–848 847 86 358.00–365.00 $359.38 $3,044 —
860–896 886 397 355.00–382.50 $371.18 $3,289 —
905–946 931 306 347.50–356.50 $352.09 $3,278 —
963–977 969 299 346.50–354.25 $351.11 $3,402 —
1055 1055 213 332.50 $332.50 $3,508 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1009 1009 53 337.75 $337.75 $3,408 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
603 603 11 421.00 $421.00 $2,539 —
744 744 27 349.00 $349.00 $2,597 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
668 668 32 396.50 $396.50 $2,649 —
755 755 5 360.00 $360.00 $2,718 —

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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.