Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 16, 2022

1,331 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 $204.22/cwt +18.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,050/hd at 514 lb · 80 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $237.99/cwt +46.20 vs last sale · ≈ $988/hd at 415 lb · 77 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $236.05/cwt +62.30 vs last sale · ≈ $872/hd at 369 lb · 63 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,331 810 0
Feeder cattle 1,000 573 0
Slaughter cattle 260 147 0
Replacement cattle 71 90 0

Special Note:*** This will be the last of the year. The next sale will be January 6. Compared to last week Feeder steers and heifer calves sold 15.00-20.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold 20.00-23.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady. Trade active demand very good>

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–235 unweaned 223 2 195.00–222.00 $209.26 $467
295 295 1 197.00 $197.00 $581 -13.00
320 unweaned 320 2 222.00 $222.00 $710
305–342 328 8 210.00–235.00 $224.35 $736 +28.21
343–346 value added 345 36 243.00–252.00 $249.82 $862
355–395 value added 366 28 232.00–250.00 $248.92 $911
370–395 377 6 207.00–220.00 $211.41 $797 +16.63
400–435 415 20 220.00–243.00 $229.45 $952 +39.53
414–423 value added 415 57 235.00–255.00 $240.99 $1,000 +36.99
453–495 462 37 202.00–230.00 $215.04 $993 +28.22
500–519 value added 514 71 200.00–216.00 $204.08 $1,049
500–530 516 9 190.00–215.00 $205.34 $1,060 +19.98
550–595 582 9 185.00–200.00 $191.08 $1,112 +11.85
610 610 2 190.00–195.00 $192.50 $1,174 +25.00
704–740 717 19 165.00–167.00 $166.14 $1,191
850 850 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,402
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 value added 270 16 228.00 $228.00 $616
250–295 274 5 190.00–205.00 $198.67 $544 +9.32
330 unweaned 330 1 191.00 $191.00 $630
320–345 337 3 182.00–200.00 $188.15 $634 +4.25
370–390 382 3 186.00–190.00 $187.69 $717 +2.93
410–425 415 4 190.00–215.00 $200.09 $830 +30.09
454 454 1 170.00 $170.00 $772 +2.82
490–492 492 8 178.00–195.00 $186.88 $919 +19.70
500–546 522 14 175.00–198.00 $185.95 $971 +13.62
555–590 570 12 167.00–182.50 $175.98 $1,003 +12.95
603–640 610 31 162.00–178.00 $167.99 $1,025 +5.56
650–695 672 21 152.00–168.00 $163.29 $1,097 +9.31
700–725 711 15 161.00–169.00 $163.60 $1,163 +9.75
780 780 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,170 -8.00
805 805 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,224 +9.00
885–888 887 5 138.00–151.00 $146.61 $1,300
920 920 2 130.00–145.00 $137.50 $1,265 +11.00
960 960 2 147.00 $147.00 $1,411
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 160.00 $160.00 $416 +2.50
320–345 332 3 160.00–175.00 $167.42 $556
355–370 363 2 150.00–165.00 $157.34 $571 -11.66
430–435 433 2 143.00–145.00 $144.01 $624 -3.85
475–495 485 3 160.00–163.00 $161.02 $781 +16.26
535–545 540 2 150.00–166.00 $157.93 $853 +10.59
555–595 578 5 145.00–155.00 $150.93 $872 +5.46
635–645 640 3 143.00–156.00 $150.69 $964 +5.60
650–690 665 3 141.00–158.00 $150.49 $1,001 +12.11
700–715 708 3 141.00–154.00 $147.65 $1,045 +11.83
758–790 763 6 133.00–146.00 $143.76 $1,097 +4.85
815 815 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,182 +16.99
870 870 1 137.00 $137.00 $1,192 +10.47
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
225 225 1 200.00 $200.00
280 280 1 130.00 $130.00
405 405 1 175.00 $175.00
500 500 1 150.00 $150.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
145 145 1 225.00 $225.00
195 195 1 325.00 $325.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 2 100.00 $100.00 $415

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 3 200.00 $200.00 $480 +28.00
254–277 value added 260 25 207.50–229.00 $223.49 $581
275–295 285 4 200.00 $200.00 $570
320 unweaned 320 1 189.00 $189.00 $605
310–345 value added 328 4 213.00–231.00 $225.16 $739 +47.24
325–335 331 15 190.00–208.00 $204.90 $678 +32.63
368 value added 368 55 242.00 $242.00 $891
355–392 378 8 187.00–201.00 $195.17 $738 +21.42
400–440 415 4 167.50–185.00 $176.66 $733 +1.79
415–435 value added 418 53 192.00–216.00 $200.47 $838
455–485 462 24 168.50–190.00 $176.31 $815 +6.36
450–495 value added 473 2 193.00–210.00 $201.10 $951
503–540 511 47 170.00–182.50 $177.21 $906 +12.20
570 value added 570 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,026
565–595 582 3 160.00–177.50 $167.37 $974 +5.91
600 600 1 150.00 $150.00 $900 -2.65
686 686 9 151.00 $151.00 $1,036
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220–245 226 15 160.00–172.50 $163.04 $368
253–296 279 7 177.50–195.00 $189.26 $528 +21.66
280 value added 280 1 185.00 $185.00 $518
310 310 2 170.00–180.00 $175.00 $542 +18.51
350–395 379 10 160.00–170.00 $166.43 $631 +5.43
380 value added 380 1 182.50 $182.50 $694
440–445 443 2 165.00–168.00 $166.51 $738 +14.01
460 460 4 150.00 $150.00 $690 -5.16
505–545 525 2 160.00–172.00 $165.77 $870 +15.91
550–595 575 8 152.00–163.00 $157.35 $905 +12.15
615–649 633 13 140.00–148.00 $146.48 $927 +6.61
653–685 664 3 137.00–141.00 $139.62 $927 +0.62
845 845 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,098 -7.81
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 150.00 $150.00 $345 -10.00
265 265 1 150.00 $150.00 $398 -2.89
370 370 1 160.00 $160.00 $592 +22.00
405–430 414 6 141.00–152.50 $144.62 $599 +9.21
490 490 1 137.00 $137.00 $671 +8.00
500–510 505 2 130.00–140.00 $134.95 $681
550–580 565 3 129.00–151.00 $136.66 $772 +6.08
610–635 623 2 135.00–141.00 $137.94 $859 +14.62
650–660 655 2 133.00–134.00 $133.50 $874 -1.50
745 745 1 130.00 $130.00 $968
776–790 778 8 120.00–127.00 $120.89 $941
823 823 2 133.00 $133.00 $1,095
875 875 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,050 +9.00
920 920 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,113
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 42.00 $42.00 $206 -5.50
530 530 1 23.00 $23.00 $122
620 620 1 30.00 $30.00 $186
770 770 1 35.00 $35.00 $270
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
280 280 1 275.00 $275.00
380 380 1 275.00 $275.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
425–440 433 2 140.00–310.00 $223.53 +113.53

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 1 157.50 $157.50 $693
550–590 564 5 144.00–172.50 $156.22 $881 +29.22
700 700 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,036 +28.00
750–790 770 2 102.50–115.00 $108.91 $839 -15.01
855 855 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,112
1035 1035 2 124.00 $124.00 $1,283
1105 1105 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,260
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 191.00 $191.00 $621
425 425 1 215.00 $215.00 $914
525 525 1 150.00 $150.00 $788
575 575 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,035
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 1 117.00 $117.00 $644
645 645 1 110.00 $110.00 $710
905 905 1 90.00 $90.00 $814
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515–530 523 2 21.00–66.00 $43.18 $226

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Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725–820 793 85-90% 10 45.00–47.00 $45.18 $358 -2.91
560–923 815 85-90% 9 30.00–42.00 $37.11 $302
735–910 852 85-90% 3 60.00–63.00 $62.14 $529 +24.00
765–1100 926 85-90% 9 36.00–44.00 $40.31 $373
835–1220 952 85-90% 68 56.50–65.00 $60.24 $573
795–1380 957 85-90% 30 45.00–55.00 $52.67 $504
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1051–1155 1076 80-85% 7 64.50–65.00 $64.65 $696 -9.05
915–1190 1090 80-85% 7 70.00–80.00 $76.03 $829 +2.33
825–1525 1170 80-85% 37 65.00–75.00 $69.99 $819
1350 1350 80-85% 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,053

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,156
1380–1670 1570 3 85.00–87.50 $85.89 $1,348
1060–2065 1573 7 65.00–84.00 $76.67 $1,206

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895 895 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
780–1175 908 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 875.00–1,050.00 $989.29
715–1115 930 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 950.00–1,150.00 $1,025.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
815–1120 932 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,175.00–1,200.00 $1,183.33
1045–1215 1173 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,525.00–1,575.00 $1,562.50
1205–1345 1275 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,325.00–1,550.00 $1,437.50
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
685–775 730 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 700.00–750.00 $725.00

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
815–1005 947 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 900.00–1,000.00 $965.00
990 990 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 975.00 $975.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1160 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
710 710 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 450.00 $450.00

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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.