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.