Cattle Market Valentine Livestock Auction Market Report
Valentine, Nebraska · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Thursday, October 22, 20263,585 head sold ·Official USDA report
Receipts
| Head | This sale | Last sale | Last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total receipts | 3,585 | 3,030 | 3,600 |
| Feeder cattle | 3,585 | 3,030 | 3,600 |
Market comments — USDA reporter
- → Feeder heifers: While not enough comparable heifer offerings from last week to establish a trend
- ▲ Feeder steers: Steer offerings weighing 450 to 650 lbs traded $2.00 to $8.00 higher
New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓
Feeder Steers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 385–399 | 388 | 44 | 592.50–605.00 | $595.13 | $2,309 | +5.56 |
| 400–447 | 429 | 98 | 521.00–605.00 | $552.21 | $2,369 | +3.12 |
| 450–499 | 471 | 166 | 499.00–546.00 | $520.80 | $2,453 | +7.46 |
| 501–541 | 525 | 304 | 470.00–497.00 | $483.90 | $2,540 | +6.85 |
| 530 | 530 | 110 | 504.00 | $504.00 | $2,671 | — |
| 578 | 578 | 98 | 476.00 | $476.00 | $2,751 | — |
| 553–599 | 586 | 607 | 431.00–473.00 | $453.81 | $2,659 | +8.14 |
| 605–647 | 627 | 531 | 425.00–454.50 | $438.23 | $2,748 | +2.36 |
| 650–697 | 676 | 217 | 400.00–434.50 | $414.98 | $2,805 | +5.68 |
| 700 | 700 | 84 | 400.00 | $400.00 | $2,800 | +6.50 |
| 722 | 722 | 83 | 402.00 | $402.00 | $2,902 | +8.50 |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 413 | 413 | 26 | 547.50 | $547.50 | $2,261 | — |
| 466–496 | 482 | 43 | 474.00–492.50 | $480.58 | $2,316 | -1.69 |
| 518–540 | 532 | 57 | 451.00–464.00 | $454.35 | $2,417 | — |
| 590 | 590 | 10 | 417.00 | $417.00 | $2,460 | — |
| 603–623 | 617 | 47 | 414.00–420.00 | $418.25 | $2,581 | +3.99 |
Feeder Heifers
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 358–392 | 376 | 56 | 477.50–512.50 | $494.94 | $1,861 | +1.91 |
| 404–434 | 427 | 89 | 463.00–482.50 | $468.29 | $2,000 | -2.68 |
| 460–491 | 476 | 143 | 451.00–505.00 | $472.08 | $2,247 | +24.20 |
| 486 | 486 | 23 | 527.50 | $527.50 | $2,564 | +79.62 |
| 501–540 | 520 | 200 | 370.00–475.00 | $423.79 | $2,204 | -19.23 |
| 552 | 552 | 52 | 552.00 | $552.00 | $3,047 | +30.00 |
| 606 | 606 | 11 | 381.00 | $381.00 | $2,309 | -5.65 |
| 667 | 667 | 6 | 342.50 | $342.50 | $2,284 | — |
| Weight (lb) | Avg wt | Head | Price range | Avg $ | ≈ $/hd | Δ last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 441 | 441 | 23 | 455.00 | $455.00 | $2,007 | — |
| 463 | 463 | 11 | 437.00 | $437.00 | $2,023 | -1.00 |
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.
Today's Special Spring Calf Sale featured several Red Angus offerings off grass. Demand was good with strong buyer participation at the barn. Steer offerings weighing 450 to 650 lbs traded $2.00 to $8.00 higher. While not enough comparable heifer offerings from last week to establish a trend, there was notably high demand for Red Angus replacement offerings. Next Auction Date Monday Oct 26th Special Bred Female and Weigh up Auction, Thursday Oct 29th Spring Calf Featuring Black White Face and Yearlings