Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, May 20, 2022

844 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Cattlemen's Livestock Auction report →

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $144.34/cwt -14.16 vs last sale · ≈ $924/hd at 640 lb · 19 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $145.45/cwt +0.45 vs last sale · ≈ $828/hd at 569 lb · 12 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 2 steers $144.97/cwt -5.45 vs last sale · ≈ $835/hd at 576 lb · 12 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 844 755 906
Feeder cattle 484 439 509
Slaughter cattle 245 157 262
Replacement cattle 115 159 135

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold steady to 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady on limited comparisons. Slaughter cows and bulls 1.00-2.00 lower. Trade good demand moderate.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 147.00 $147.00 $301 -13.00
278 278 2 150.00 $150.00 $417 —
330 330 1 140.00 $140.00 $462 —
355 355 1 145.00 $145.00 $515 —
400–445 425 5 135.00–150.00 $141.73 $602 -3.27
470–475 472 3 140.00–156.00 $150.30 $709 -4.18
500–540 523 5 140.00–157.00 $145.42 $761 -4.58
550–591 576 12 135.00–150.00 $144.97 $835 -5.45
620 620 2 142.00 $142.00 $880 -2.81
650–698 675 12 126.00–138.50 $133.36 $900 -1.64
705–735 722 6 126.00–137.00 $132.27 $955 —
1005 1005 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,005 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 2 186.00 $186.00 $353 —
220–243 233 3 162.00–178.00 $168.02 $391 -20.35
295 295 2 165.00 $165.00 $487 -13.77
300–345 317 3 170.00–185.00 $178.02 $564 +15.38
400–445 423 7 160.00–169.00 $162.84 $689 —
490–495 493 2 162.00–165.00 $163.49 $806 -7.50
520 520 2 162.00 $162.00 $842 -2.04
550–580 563 4 154.00–167.00 $160.41 $903 -9.59
613–648 640 19 143.50–150.00 $144.34 $924 -14.16
665 665 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,017 +1.63
705 705 1 134.00 $134.00 $945 -15.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 180 2 197.00 $197.00 $355 —
243 243 2 195.00 $195.00 $474 —
265–295 278 3 186.00–195.00 $191.08 $531 -6.86
307–345 320 9 186.00–197.00 $191.49 $613 +5.36
310–345 value added 328 2 201.00 $201.00 $659 —
385–393 391 4 184.00–190.00 $188.52 $737 +5.24
405–440 423 9 181.00–190.00 $185.20 $783 +2.78
450–475 461 5 169.00–185.00 $178.82 $824 -1.35
503–525 510 3 168.00–173.00 $171.29 $874 -5.52
550 550 3 171.00 $171.00 $940 -1.66
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
365–390 377 5 380.00–425.00 $410.76 +10.76
448 448 2 390.00 $390.00 —
453–463 457 17 390.00–410.00 $401.66 -8.34
507–530 513 5 300.00–400.00 $364.44 —
560–575 568 3 325.00–385.00 $353.27 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 1 63.00 $63.00 $353 -6.00
630 630 1 63.00 $63.00 $397 —
710 710 1 63.50 $63.50 $451 —
776 776 7 61.50 $61.50 $477 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
125 125 1 280.00 $280.00 +38.21
175 175 2 330.00–360.00 $345.00 +5.46

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 162.00 $162.00 $356 +2.94
270–295 286 5 164.00–176.00 $168.01 $481 +9.74
320–345 337 3 150.00–155.00 $153.42 $517 —
365–395 383 5 147.00–158.00 $150.81 $578 -4.82
400–445 408 10 132.00–156.00 $146.47 $598 +0.90
450–498 482 9 146.00–158.00 $151.67 $731 -0.35
510–545 519 4 135.00–146.00 $140.90 $731 -7.64
553–598 569 12 140.00–151.50 $145.45 $828 +0.45
600–642 623 10 127.00–142.00 $137.47 $856 -1.53
675–685 678 3 127.00–136.00 $130.03 $882 -2.65
710–740 720 8 107.00–144.00 $134.26 $967 -2.72
780 780 1 107.00 $107.00 $835 -12.06
855–870 864 6 109.00–115.00 $113.66 $982 —
900 900 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,098 —
1040 1040 1 108.00 $108.00 $1,123 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 137.00 $137.00 $363 —
310–345 328 2 126.00–141.00 $133.10 $437 —
350–375 360 6 125.00–140.00 $131.50 $473 -5.92
400–430 418 4 120.00–135.00 $129.49 $541 -1.16
480 480 2 120.00–139.00 $129.50 $622 -7.50
525–543 534 7 110.00–133.00 $126.87 $677 -0.34
553–571 566 10 130.00–138.00 $132.35 $749 +2.55
600–630 615 6 110.00–137.00 $122.06 $751 -2.94
670–675 673 2 106.00–135.00 $120.45 $811 +13.74
743 743 3 102.50 $102.50 $762 —
750 750 1 117.00 $117.00 $878 —
890 890 1 99.00 $99.00 $881 -11.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–240 212 4 161.00–175.00 $166.58 $353 —
265–295 284 4 165.00–183.00 $173.85 $494 -1.57
318 318 2 170.00 $170.00 $541 —
360–390 380 10 166.00–170.00 $168.61 $641 +0.48
400–430 412 6 160.00–164.00 $161.86 $667 +4.83
480 480 1 158.00 $158.00 $758 -2.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 1 150.00 $150.00 —
135 135 1 200.00 $200.00 -13.02
150–165 154 6 285.00–325.00 $309.80 —
205 205 4 330.00 $330.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
345 345 1 300.00 $300.00 —
420 420 9 350.00–425.00 $416.67 —
500–520 510 2 300.00 $300.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565–598 594 11 18.00–40.00 $20.08 $119 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
110 110 2 150.00 $150.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170 170 1 410.00 $410.00 +50.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–440 423 2 150.00–155.00 $152.40 $645 +1.98
455–485 474 5 121.00–150.00 $142.49 $675 -10.99
510–520 515 3 122.00–170.00 $143.90 $741 —
585 585 1 117.50 $117.50 $687 -37.50
605–615 610 4 120.00–125.00 $121.24 $740 —
720 720 1 105.00 $105.00 $756 —
750 750 1 118.00 $118.00 $885 +12.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580–595 588 2 50.00–53.00 $51.48 $303 —
610 610 1 59.50 $59.50 $363 -15.50
650 650 2 57.00–77.00 $67.00 $436 —
720 720 2 70.00 $70.00 $504 —
815 815 1 74.00 $74.00 $603 —
861 861 5 74.00 $74.00 $637 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
90–95 93 2 200.00 $200.00 —
110–140 127 3 175.00–300.00 $239.87 -35.13
160 160 1 325.00 $325.00 +120.50
220 220 1 350.00 $350.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 2 186.00 $186.00 $409 —
420 420 1 182.00 $182.00 $764 —
565 565 1 168.00 $168.00 $949 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 85.00 $85.00 $314 —
455 455 1 107.00 $107.00 $487 —
515 515 1 100.00 $100.00 $515 —
755 755 1 95.00 $95.00 $717 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670–800 735 85-90% 2 32.00–46.00 $38.38 $282 —
850–1025 904 85-90% 4 28.00–35.00 $33.02 $299 -22.24
645–1180 922 85-90% 24 50.00–59.00 $52.83 $487 -2.43
720–1245 923 85-90% 11 39.00–48.00 $44.15 $408 -11.11
870–1070 937 85-90% 3 53.00–56.50 $54.39 $510 +12.30
730–1138 1017 85-90% 9 63.00–66.00 $65.28 $664 —
795–1255 1031 85-90% 48 60.00–67.50 $64.49 $665 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
598–1088 853 80-85% 9 71.00–86.00 $81.52 $695 +1.52
1015 1015 80-85% 1 70.00 $70.00 $710 —
950–1185 1104 80-85% 6 70.00–71.00 $70.43 $778 -0.57
810–1740 1193 80-85% 63 68.00–85.00 $74.75 $892 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1640 1640 75-80% 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,394 +9.26
1635–1780 1708 75-80% 2 70.00–76.00 $73.13 $1,249 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1765 1366 9 69.00–80.00 $76.97 $1,051 —
1370–1750 1564 9 85.00–96.50 $92.30 $1,444 +2.53
1295–1955 1640 4 97.00–104.00 $100.78 $1,653 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
630–980 842 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 675.00–820.00 $731.67
755–990 855 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 700.00–880.00 $757.50
830–960 895 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 675.00–720.00 $697.50
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
541 541 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 400.00 $400.00
645–850 748 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 450.00–500.00 $475.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
665–795 747 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 450.00–600.00 $516.67
765 765 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 585.00 $585.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
785–1120 975 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 820.00–1,030.00 $927.08 -42.92
990 990 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 750.00 $750.00 -220.00
820–1250 1154 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 12 870.00–1,085.00 $984.58 -85.42

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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.