Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 9, 2022

810 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $185.36/cwt +3.04 vs last sale · ≈ $951/hd at 513 lb · 34 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $169.95/cwt +5.08 vs last sale · ≈ $800/hd at 471 lb · 28 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $186.82/cwt -1.12 vs last sale · ≈ $880/hd at 471 lb · 23 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 810 1,448 681
Feeder cattle 573 1,058 466
Slaughter cattle 147 261 136
Replacement cattle 90 129 79

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold 3.00-4.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady on limited comparisons. Slaughter cows and bulls 1.00-2.00 higher. Trade and demand good.

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
240 240 1 220.00 $220.00 $528 —
260 value added 260 3 212.00 $212.00 $551 —
290 290 1 210.00 $210.00 $609 -5.23
300–332 321 15 195.00–210.00 $196.14 $630 -8.00
350–395 382 16 190.00–211.00 $194.78 $744 -1.47
428 value added 428 2 204.00 $204.00 $873 —
410–445 435 13 185.00–195.00 $189.92 $826 +0.15
450–497 471 23 184.00–191.00 $186.82 $880 -0.24
500–535 513 34 180.00–189.00 $185.36 $951 +3.04
555–595 570 17 168.00–185.00 $179.23 $1,022 -3.89
620 620 5 167.50 $167.50 $1,038 —
655 655 6 167.00 $167.00 $1,094 +2.83
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
254–285 270 2 183.00–195.00 $189.35 $511 -1.08
300–330 313 3 180.00–187.00 $183.90 $576 -7.30
355–392 380 12 179.00–190.00 $184.76 $702 -0.90
425 425 1 170.00 $170.00 $722 -13.73
405–440 427 5 181.00–190.00 $185.80 $793 +2.07
450–490 464 6 160.00–177.00 $167.18 $776 -8.87
465 value added 465 2 184.00 $184.00 $856 —
510–545 527 3 165.00–180.00 $172.33 $908 +2.53
550–590 577 12 160.00–170.00 $163.03 $941 -6.15
610–640 631 10 158.00–169.50 $162.43 $1,025 -0.23
655–685 670 4 150.00–156.00 $153.98 $1,032 -2.65
680 value added 680 10 164.50 $164.50 $1,119 —
705–720 710 7 150.00–160.00 $153.85 $1,092 -4.85
750 750 3 151.00–161.50 $158.00 $1,185 +7.45
810 810 2 143.00 $143.00 $1,158 +1.00
908 908 2 126.50 $126.50 $1,149 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 157.50 $157.50 $449 -1.24
375 375 1 169.00 $169.00 $634 +27.02
410–425 418 2 140.00–156.00 $147.86 $618 +2.59
470–495 484 4 135.00–154.00 $144.76 $701 -9.91
520–523 522 3 146.00–148.00 $147.34 $769 -1.07
565–595 576 5 132.00–159.00 $145.47 $838 -5.25
625–640 635 8 140.00–153.00 $145.09 $921 +1.76
655–690 667 5 127.00–148.00 $138.38 $923 +5.40
715–738 731 10 127.00–141.00 $135.82 $993 -4.18
762–775 765 4 118.00–146.00 $138.91 $1,063 +8.91
835–840 838 2 126.00–130.00 $128.01 $1,073 —
850–890 870 2 125.00–128.00 $126.53 $1,101 -3.47
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
325 325 3 125.00 $125.00 —
365 365 1 275.00 $275.00 -37.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
200 200 1 350.00 $350.00 +39.45
325 325 1 210.00 $210.00 -65.00
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120 unweaned 120 1 100.00 $100.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
244 244 1 172.00 $172.00 $420 —
305–330 313 3 167.00–182.00 $172.27 $539 +1.02
310–340 value added 336 8 177.00–185.00 $177.92 $598 —
363–388 380 18 170.00–180.00 $173.75 $660 +5.13
400–429 418 14 165.00–180.00 $174.87 $731 +8.10
450–495 471 28 160.00–179.00 $169.95 $800 +8.99
505–540 521 20 155.00–170.00 $165.01 $860 +0.53
563 563 3 157.00 $157.00 $884 -3.59
550–571 565 14 158.00–167.00 $161.46 $912 +0.87
609–618 612 6 150.00–154.00 $152.65 $934 -1.35
722 value added 722 3 149.00 $149.00 $1,076 —
840 840 1 146.00 $146.00 $1,226 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–295 287 3 164.00–170.00 $167.60 $481 -2.73
320–345 335 4 150.00–166.00 $156.49 $524 -0.53
365 365 2 161.00 $161.00 $588 +1.88
430 430 2 145.00–160.00 $152.50 $656 +1.84
450–493 476 9 142.00–159.00 $155.16 $739 +8.82
500–545 525 4 145.00–155.00 $149.86 $787 -3.16
558–595 576 9 140.00–152.00 $145.20 $836 -3.65
578 value added 578 3 160.00 $160.00 $925 —
609–640 622 11 135.00–146.00 $139.87 $870 -2.40
670–683 679 3 139.00 $139.00 $944 +7.74
700 700 1 136.00 $136.00 $952 +2.50
750 750 2 141.00 $141.00 $1,058 —
810–843 836 5 137.00–138.00 $137.81 $1,152 +12.57
870 870 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,131 —
915 915 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,144 -10.00
970 970 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,212 +2.54
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 160.00 $160.00 $368 +5.00
275–295 285 2 150.00–156.00 $152.89 $436 -8.20
385 385 1 138.00 $138.00 $531 +0.59
410–430 422 3 130.00–139.00 $135.41 $571 +6.61
485 485 1 129.00 $129.00 $626 -7.69
545 545 1 137.00 $137.00 $747 -0.78
565–585 574 4 124.00–136.00 $130.58 $750 -4.95
620–635 628 2 117.50–129.00 $123.32 $774 -4.20
660 660 1 135.00 $135.00 $891 +5.00
700 700 1 125.00 $125.00 $875 +3.03
880 880 1 111.00 $111.00 $977 +11.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
335 335 1 235.00 $235.00 +85.00
350–390 370 2 175.00–225.00 $201.35 +1.35
405 405 1 110.00 $110.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 47.50 $47.50 $221 —
570 570 1 38.00 $38.00 $217 -4.00
735 735 1 35.00 $35.00 $257 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
235 235 1 435.00 $435.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160 unweaned 160 1 200.00 $200.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–475 473 2 140.00–159.00 $149.45 $707 -9.89
505 505 2 145.00–165.00 $155.00 $783 +10.00
535 unweaned 535 1 125.00 $125.00 $669 —
595 595 1 127.00 $127.00 $756 —
655–675 665 3 125.00–140.00 $130.74 $869 +8.79
700 700 1 120.00 $120.00 $840 -22.00
753–775 760 3 116.00–128.00 $123.92 $942 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 1 49.00 $49.00 $304 —
890 890 1 82.00 $82.00 $730 +42.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715 715 1 84.00 $84.00 $601 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
325 325 1 250.00 $250.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750 750 85-90% 1 30.00 $30.00 $225 +3.56
725–805 765 85-90% 2 41.00–45.00 $43.10 $330 +16.66
725–865 793 85-90% 4 44.00–53.00 $48.09 $381 —
655–1190 886 85-90% 8 29.00–44.00 $38.14 $338 —
880–1275 1039 85-90% 42 45.00–57.00 $53.86 $560 +2.51
780–1260 1070 85-90% 39 57.00–64.00 $60.00 $642 —
925–1219 1132 85-90% 11 59.00–63.00 $62.01 $702 +7.64
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1390 1085 80-85% 10 65.00–80.00 $73.70 $800 —
950–1570 1241 80-85% 26 65.00–75.50 $71.16 $883 +1.16
1185–1490 1338 80-85% 2 64.00 $64.00 $856 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075 1075 1 91.00 $91.00 $978 —
1415–1575 1487 6 80.00–85.00 $82.28 $1,224 —
1435–1720 1511 4 77.00–85.00 $82.14 $1,241 —
1405–2010 1719 11 88.00–94.00 $91.00 $1,564 +3.71

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745–1000 867 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 840.00–1,100.00 $941.25
835–950 904 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 775.00–920.00 $845.00
905 905 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00
985 985 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
855–1103 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,175.00–1,275.00 $1,241.67
1060 1060 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
650–780 715 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 500.00–675.00 $587.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 770.00 $770.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
530 530 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 400.00 $400.00

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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
1208–1260 1225 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,060.00–1,150.00 $1,120.00 —
1317 1317 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,000.00 $1,000.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1015 1015 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 800.00 $800.00 —
925 925 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 600.00 $600.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
600 600 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 285.00 $285.00 —

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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.