Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, March 24, 2023

553 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 $225.34/cwt -0.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,170/hd at 519 lb · 23 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $207.45/cwt -4.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,004/hd at 484 lb · 20 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $170.93/cwt +10.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,147/hd at 671 lb · 15 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 553 898 716
Feeder cattle 340 683 455
Slaughter cattle 153 139 143
Replacement cattle 60 76 118

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold 6.00-8.00 lower on comparable quotes. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady on limited quotes. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 3.00-4.00 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
250 250 2 237.00 $237.00 $592 -20.50
255 value added 255 1 261.00 $261.00 $666 —
300 value added 300 1 260.00 $260.00 $780 +9.80
315–343 329 4 232.00–240.00 $236.29 $777 +4.52
350–393 376 7 240.00–245.00 $241.94 $910 +9.48
410–415 414 9 207.00–222.00 $220.35 $912 -4.41
410–420 value added 418 5 230.00–251.00 $246.88 $1,032 —
450–485 464 12 225.00–249.00 $237.58 $1,102 +8.90
505–545 value added 514 11 230.00–237.00 $233.51 $1,200 —
500–545 523 11 197.00–228.00 $216.74 $1,134 -3.89
540 thin fleshed 540 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,242 ±0.00
550–595 577 9 200.00–220.00 $211.44 $1,220 +1.17
570–584 value added 582 6 225.00–234.00 $232.53 $1,353 +15.76
625–635 630 4 205.00–220.00 $212.25 $1,337 +15.24
650–675 659 6 190.00–207.00 $198.84 $1,310 —
837 837 3 166.50 $166.50 $1,394 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–298 289 7 220.00–241.00 $229.78 $664 +31.98
310–325 319 4 200.00–220.00 $207.88 $663 +4.94
355 355 1 207.00 $207.00 $735 -6.82
410–430 421 4 197.00–212.00 $202.99 $855 -8.07
470–490 480 11 195.00–207.00 $198.13 $951 -10.01
486 value added 486 4 219.00 $219.00 $1,064 —
580 580 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,114 -6.29
620 620 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,209 +8.29
660 660 2 177.00–180.00 $178.50 $1,178 +1.92
710–720 715 2 165.00–173.00 $168.97 $1,208 -5.77
755–790 773 2 159.00–174.00 $166.67 $1,288 -3.31
800–835 822 3 162.00–180.00 $172.25 $1,416 +16.25
890 890 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,380 +2.68
925–940 933 2 145.00–149.00 $146.98 $1,371 +0.98
1115 1115 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,427 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 161.00 $161.00 $531 -17.17
360–385 373 2 150.00–170.00 $160.34 $598 -10.68
450 450 1 180.00 $180.00 $810 —
515–545 530 2 165.00–175.00 $169.86 $900 -1.03
560–570 565 2 165.00–186.00 $175.59 $992 -5.41
805 805 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,087 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 1 100.00 $100.00 $405 —
610 610 1 59.00 $59.00 $360 —
695 695 1 59.00 $59.00 $410 +9.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
415–430 423 2 200.00–300.00 $250.89 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
235 235 1 300.00 $300.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 220.00 $220.00 $451 —
295 295 1 210.00 $210.00 $620 —
315 315 2 207.50 $207.50 $654 +4.13
320 value added 320 1 235.00 $235.00 $752 +8.06
350–393 376 9 190.00–212.00 $206.27 $776 -5.07
387 value added 387 5 230.00 $230.00 $890 —
410–430 422 3 192.50–211.00 $203.66 $859 -4.83
455–485 471 8 193.00–220.00 $207.37 $977 +2.37
493 value added 493 12 207.50 $207.50 $1,023 —
515–540 532 3 190.00–192.00 $190.65 $1,014 -10.87
617 value added 617 8 193.00 $193.00 $1,191 —
620–630 625 2 171.00–173.00 $172.01 $1,075 —
680 680 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,204 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 182.00 $182.00 $491 -9.35
365 365 1 182.50 $182.50 $666 —
404–430 412 10 185.00–192.50 $188.66 $777 +0.15
490–495 493 2 180.00–182.00 $180.99 $892 -9.73
523 523 2 195.00 $195.00 $1,020 ±0.00
552–592 562 14 184.00–188.00 $186.88 $1,050 +2.24
662–695 671 15 160.00–179.00 $170.93 $1,147 +10.93
750 750 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,178 +15.67
810 810 1 137.00 $137.00 $1,110 -3.00
935 935 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,309 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–340 327 3 161.00–165.00 $163.78 $536 —
360–375 368 2 160.00–165.00 $162.55 $598 -6.47
405–445 425 2 160.00 $160.00 $680 -7.00
465–480 473 2 155.00–167.00 $161.10 $762 -3.90
570–585 578 2 158.00–167.50 $162.69 $940 +10.73
620 620 1 132.00 $132.00 $818 -11.62
667 667 3 153.00 $153.00 $1,021 +7.83
700–745 718 3 130.00–140.00 $134.90 $969 -5.07
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
115 unweaned 115 1 385.00 $385.00 —
155–160 unweaned 158 2 425.00–435.00 $430.08 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
400–425 413 2 200.00–210.00 $205.15 —
540 540 1 185.00 $185.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 65.00 $65.00 $315 +12.00
575 575 1 45.00 $45.00 $259 -12.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 163.00 $163.00 $750 —
535 535 1 177.00 $177.00 $947 -13.00
600–615 608 2 125.00–142.00 $133.60 $812 -24.25
680 680 1 130.00 $130.00 $884 -22.00
840 840 2 133.00–135.00 $134.00 $1,126 +5.90
880 880 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,056 —
980 980 2 100.00–130.00 $115.00 $1,127 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1160–1355 1258 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,000.00–2,200.00 $2,092.25 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650–685 668 2 81.00–100.00 $90.25 $603 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 229.00 $229.00 $973 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640–935 822 85-90% 3 40.00–45.00 $42.94 $353 —
770–975 898 85-90% 3 46.00–51.00 $49.22 $442 —
750–966 910 85-90% 8 55.00–65.00 $57.20 $521 —
820–1028 924 85-90% 2 82.00 $82.00 $758 —
685–1060 929 85-90% 18 63.00–74.00 $68.07 $632 —
760–1065 935 85-90% 6 62.50–73.00 $67.49 $631 —
735–1125 963 85-90% 29 73.50–84.00 $77.64 $748 +0.32
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–1490 983 80-85% 4 85.00–98.00 $90.14 $886 +3.14
750–1410 1079 80-85% 22 82.00–90.00 $87.23 $941 +3.03
875–1293 1134 80-85% 12 89.50–100.00 $96.48 $1,094 —
1045–1510 1249 80-85% 24 103.00–113.00 $107.04 $1,337 +12.67
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2165 2165 75-80% 1 94.00 $94.00 $2,035 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965 965 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,023 —
1300 1300 1 81.00 $81.00 $1,053 —
1170–1515 1343 2 75.50–76.00 $75.72 $1,017 —
1050–1720 1408 10 105.00–120.00 $110.88 $1,561 —
1065–1760 1432 5 94.00–104.00 $98.21 $1,406 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
660–965 819 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 110.00–142.00 $127.33 $1,043

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790–940 848 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 900.00–1,150.00 $983.33
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,030.00 $1,030.00
865–1083 952 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 10 875.00–1,125.00 $989.00
1200 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
580–590 585 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 525.00–700.00 $612.50
705 705 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 600.00 $600.00
745–805 775 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 600.00–650.00 $625.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920–1260 1139 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,285.00–1,560.00 $1,450.00
1235 1235 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
680–895 805 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 800.00–900.00 $833.33
910 910 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
935 935 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 725.00 $725.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
543 543 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 300.00 $300.00
800 800 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 400.00 $400.00

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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.