Cattle Market Pulse

Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report

Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 24, 2026

2,000 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $325.16/cwt -8.54 vs last sale · ≈ $2,679/hd at 824 lb · 360 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $341.14/cwt +18.09 vs last sale · ≈ $2,637/hd at 773 lb · 240 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $352.84/cwt ≈ $2,572/hd at 729 lb · 182 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,000 2,600 0
Feeder cattle 2,000 2,600 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

A limited number of comparable offerings from two weeks ago a trend will not be given for steers or heifers. Demand was good with several buyers and active internet bidding. Several offerings of pregged checked open heifers and home raised guaranteed open Heifers off grass. Next Auction Date Oct 1st and 8th Spring Calf Sale, Monday, Oct 5th Weigh Ups and Bred Cow Sale, Monday, Oct 12th Special Yearling Sale

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
861–884 872 123 328.00–352.50 $340.59 $2,970 -9.17
924–926 924 82 326.00–333.00 $331.46 $3,063 -10.86
986 986 176 343.50 $343.50 $3,387 +2.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
696 696 6 345.00 $345.00 $2,401 —
828 828 15 329.00 $329.00 $2,724 —
971 971 5 318.00 $318.00 $3,088 +5.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1099 1099 5 281.00 $281.00 $3,088 -4.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 19 392.00 $392.00 $2,078 —
618–634 631 39 376.00–380.00 $376.80 $2,378 +11.18
671–699 691 34 338.00–345.00 $339.48 $2,346 —
708–740 729 182 336.00–365.00 $352.84 $2,572 —
753–790 773 240 330.00–350.50 $341.14 $2,637 +18.09
806–844 824 360 310.00–329.00 $325.16 $2,679 -8.54
852–899 877 147 295.00–322.00 $305.15 $2,676 -14.69
922–947 938 93 288.00–309.50 $302.93 $2,841 -5.52
950–986 966 161 258.00–320.00 $295.95 $2,859 -7.75
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1045 1025 53 273.00–293.50 $287.56 $2,947 -6.90
1068–1085 1077 16 274.00–278.50 $276.23 $2,975 -8.94
1147 1147 5 256.00 $256.00 $2,936 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
727 727 7 327.00 $327.00 $2,377 —
785 785 9 296.00 $296.00 $2,324 —
822–835 827 23 294.00–305.00 $301.13 $2,490 —

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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.