Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, March 31, 2023

867 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $217.80/cwt +14.14 vs last sale · ≈ $933/hd at 428 lb · 75 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $211.91/cwt +21.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,110/hd at 524 lb · 57 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $229.11/cwt +3.77 vs last sale · ≈ $1,222/hd at 533 lb · 40 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 867 553 722
Feeder cattle 768 340 456
Slaughter cattle 67 153 151
Replacement cattle 32 60 115

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves were 8.00-12,00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers were 4.00-6.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls 1.00-2.00 higher. Trade active 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
280–295 285 4 237.00–256.00 $246.88 $704 +9.88
313 value added 313 2 255.50 $255.50 $800 -4.50
300–345 323 15 226.00–253.00 $241.29 $779 +5.00
352–385 value added 361 14 251.00–260.00 $253.75 $916 —
355–398 378 15 220.00–250.00 $243.35 $920 +1.41
390 unweaned 390 1 220.00 $220.00 $858 —
400 thin fleshed 400 6 252.50 $252.50 $1,010 —
410–445 428 13 230.00–248.00 $239.08 $1,023 +18.73
430–448 value added 439 12 245.00–251.00 $248.38 $1,090 +1.50
450–460 value added 455 3 250.00–260.00 $254.20 $1,157 —
455–495 480 29 218.50–243.00 $236.44 $1,135 -1.14
505 value added 505 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,212 +6.49
500–547 534 39 209.00–238.00 $228.83 $1,222 +12.09
570–597 580 11 206.00–227.00 $211.92 $1,229 +0.48
550–592 value added 589 24 215.50–235.00 $216.55 $1,275 -15.98
605–637 630 21 200.00–221.00 $214.46 $1,351 +2.21
650–655 653 2 201.00 $201.00 $1,313 +2.16
703 703 5 195.00 $195.00 $1,371 —
785 785 1 187.00 $187.00 $1,468 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–280 263 5 202.00–230.00 $218.52 $575 -11.26
305–340 value added 321 6 210.00–230.00 $213.83 $686 —
320–345 336 6 192.50–220.00 $211.37 $710 +3.49
355 355 3 210.00 $210.00 $746 +3.00
460–495 480 12 185.00–210.00 $200.37 $962 +2.24
505–540 517 3 190.00–197.00 $194.24 $1,004 —
565–580 570 3 180.00–200.00 $186.61 $1,064 -5.39
600–615 608 3 180.00–198.00 $189.39 $1,151 -5.61
650–670 663 3 180.00–198.00 $185.88 $1,232 +7.38
705–740 723 2 160.00–188.00 $174.34 $1,260 +5.37
775–780 778 2 171.00–191.00 $180.97 $1,408 +14.30
810 810 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,498 +12.75
890 890 1 173.50 $173.50 $1,544 +18.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 160.00 $160.00 $504 -1.00
350–395 372 5 150.00–185.00 $171.34 $637 +11.00
425 425 1 162.00 $162.00 $688 —
450–490 461 4 176.00–192.00 $182.61 $842 +2.61
528–540 532 3 172.00–179.00 $174.37 $928 +4.51
550 550 1 166.00 $166.00 $913 -9.59
655 655 2 164.50 $164.50 $1,077 —
735 735 1 127.00 $127.00 $933 —
755 755 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,057 —
845 845 1 156.00 $156.00 $1,318 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
558–565 560 4 52.50–59.50 $57.73 $323 —
642 642 3 62.00 $62.00 $398 +3.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
187 187 3 325.00 $325.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
130 unweaned 130 1 375.00 $375.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
150 unweaned 150 1 385.00 $385.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–335 328 6 196.00–220.00 $205.41 $674 -2.09
350–393 374 8 210.00–220.00 $216.36 $809 +10.09
350–395 value added 389 18 219.00–246.00 $222.77 $867 -7.23
405–445 427 23 204.00–220.00 $212.45 $907 +8.79
429–435 value added 429 52 220.00–222.00 $220.16 $944 —
450–460 value added 455 3 215.00–222.00 $218.97 $996 —
450–490 470 25 200.00–218.00 $208.57 $980 +1.20
521 value added 521 38 214.50 $214.50 $1,118 —
505–545 529 19 200.00–218.00 $206.74 $1,094 +16.09
558–570 565 8 199.00–216.00 $208.17 $1,176 —
610–640 620 15 197.00–212.00 $198.78 $1,232 +26.77
684 value added 684 22 183.00 $183.00 $1,252 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 225.00 $225.00 $518 —
310–327 321 5 189.00–202.00 $193.67 $622 —
370–375 374 4 185.00–200.00 $196.24 $734 +13.74
380 thin fleshed 380 1 207.50 $207.50 $788 —
405–443 429 6 184.00–198.00 $191.25 $820 +2.59
460–480 473 4 190.00–195.00 $191.98 $908 +10.99
503–535 511 7 185.00–197.00 $194.13 $992 -0.87
550–585 570 6 175.00–194.00 $184.02 $1,049 -2.86
600–645 618 16 168.00–191.00 $182.99 $1,131 —
670 670 11 180.00–185.00 $184.55 $1,236 +13.62
770 770 5 160.00 $160.00 $1,232 +3.00
800 800 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,160 +8.00
810 810 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,166 +7.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 175.00 $175.00 $420 —
335–340 338 2 160.00–180.00 $169.93 $574 +6.15
380–395 388 2 175.00–180.00 $177.45 $689 +14.90
405–418 412 4 148.00–174.00 $155.41 $640 -4.59
480–485 483 2 140.00–165.00 $152.44 $736 -8.66
503–545 523 4 140.00–162.00 $153.19 $801 —
560 560 1 135.00 $135.00 $756 -27.69
600–635 612 7 134.00–160.00 $148.21 $907 +16.21
650–690 669 10 130.00–161.00 $142.53 $954 -10.47
705–740 723 2 130.00–135.00 $132.44 $958 -2.46
760 760 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,026 —
815 815 1 120.00 $120.00 $978 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 5 53.00 $53.00 $289 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
315 315 1 380.00 $380.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
695 695 1 100.00 $100.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 175.00 $175.00 $604 —
460–485 473 2 160.00–177.00 $168.28 $796 +5.28
595 595 1 157.00 $157.00 $934 —
625–630 628 5 178.00–188.00 $181.98 $1,143 +48.38
670–690 677 3 176.00–181.00 $178.97 $1,212 +48.97
740 740 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,221 —
765 765 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,224 —
810 810 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,304 +27.00
910–925 918 2 111.00–129.00 $120.07 $1,102 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 1 245.00 $245.00 $858 —
405–410 408 2 217.50–230.00 $223.79 $913 -5.21
490 490 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,090 —
520–535 528 3 215.00–216.00 $215.33 $1,137 —
555 555 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,215 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730 730 3 120.00–126.00 $124.00 $905 —
760 760 1 110.00 $110.00 $836 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930–1325 1088 80-85% 11 86.00–90.00 $88.08 $958 +0.85
890–1595 1113 80-85% 9 93.00–103.00 $98.28 $1,094 +1.80
990–1385 1183 80-85% 9 104.00–110.00 $107.32 $1,270 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
690 690 85-90% 1 49.00 $49.00 $338 —
755–890 813 85-90% 3 57.00–62.00 $59.64 $485 +16.70
665–1015 834 85-90% 10 65.00–75.00 $69.05 $576 +26.11
950 950 85-90% 1 47.00 $47.00 $446 -30.64
885–1060 952 85-90% 3 75.00–80.00 $77.17 $735 -0.47
830–1195 984 85-90% 9 75.00–84.50 $77.96 $767 +0.32
1086 1086 85-90% 1 69.50 $69.50 $755 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1280 1180 2 74.00–87.00 $81.05 $956 —
1115–1885 1434 4 98.00–104.00 $102.01 $1,463 +3.80
1235–2210 1638 8 108.00–117.00 $111.81 $1,831 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
660–1120 865 (<2 yrs)Open 3 117.50–123.00 $120.17 $1,039

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Bred Cows

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
550–715 658 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 575.00–750.00 $675.00
680 680 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 525.00 $525.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
755–805 780 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 850.00–900.00 $875.00
800 800 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00
920 920 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 910.00 $910.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990 990 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1055 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
700 700 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
1235 1235 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1075 1075 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —

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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.