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On Thursday, 3,400 cattle went through the Valentine Livestock sale barn in Nebraska. This was a feeder calf sale, where feedlots source their stock from local cow-calf ranchers (suckler farmers). Trade was very strong. The main buyers in the audience represented local enterprises with a cumulative 200,000 hd feeding capacity. Quality cattle attracted big premiums, with some standout lots driven on to eyebrow-raising figures as competition developed.
Attendance was lower than normal as a storm warning was in place for later that evening – temperatures in the area had dropped by 21°C in less than 24 hours.
Beef prices in the region are the equivalent to €3.38/kg carcase at present.
Examples of some cattle on the day and their prices are listed below.
These Charolais-cross weaned April-born heifers weighed 563lbs (255kg) and sold for $695 each (€653 - €2.56/kg).
Eleven Charolais-cross weaned March-born weighed 643lbs (292kg) and sold for $868 each (€816 - €2.79/kg).
Twelve Angus weaned steers, born in March, weighed 703lbs (320kg) and sold for $949 each (€892 -€2.79/kg).
These five unweaned (pulled from the cow that morning) Angus heifers, born in May, weighed 333lbs (151kg) and sold for $410 dollars each (€385 - €2.55/kg).
Twenty weaned (30 days off the cow) Angus steers, born in April, weighed 526lbs (239kg) and sold for $797 each (€749 – €3.13/kg).
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