Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, May 5, 2023

673 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 $239.45/cwt +15.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,261/hd at 527 lb · 32 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $225.97/cwt +21.06 vs last sale · ≈ $1,073/hd at 475 lb · 25 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $183.80/cwt -0.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,137/hd at 619 lb · 21 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 673 692 1,074
Feeder cattle 465 502 581
Slaughter cattle 135 124 314
Replacement cattle 73 66 179

Market comments — USDA reporter

No comparison to last week due to reporters absence, but a higher undertone noted steer and heifer calves compared to two weeks ago. Also slaughter cows and bulls steady. 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
265–280 273 2 250.00–268.00 $258.75 $706 —
325–345 value added 335 2 267.00 $267.00 $894 +19.50
340 340 2 247.00–250.00 $248.50 $845 +13.35
370–395 384 4 242.00–250.00 $247.35 $950 +20.18
388–393 value added 390 5 257.50–259.00 $258.10 $1,007 -21.90
408–445 value added 420 5 250.00–260.00 $254.63 $1,069 +2.56
410–440 421 10 221.00–247.00 $239.69 $1,009 +4.03
450–490 469 16 226.00–262.50 $242.29 $1,136 +13.87
500 500 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,100 -3.91
515–530 value added 522 7 243.00–251.00 $246.73 $1,288 —
500–545 529 24 222.00–242.50 $238.14 $1,260 +14.23
555–590 577 15 220.00–241.00 $232.68 $1,343 +14.22
600–640 615 10 219.00–235.00 $225.08 $1,384 +11.77
654–690 664 7 220.00–226.00 $222.34 $1,476 +16.34
705 705 1 212.00 $212.00 $1,495 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 214.00 $214.00 $503 —
255 255 2 200.00–230.00 $215.00 $548 -24.50
300–335 318 3 194.00–220.00 $210.50 $669 -2.00
360–365 363 2 197.00–215.00 $205.94 $748 +5.94
405 value added 405 1 237.00 $237.00 $960 —
400–440 420 3 200.00–220.00 $210.16 $883 -2.38
455–485 467 3 217.50–237.00 $226.69 $1,059 +20.85
525–530 528 4 190.00–202.00 $196.77 $1,039 -11.60
560–590 575 8 192.00–220.00 $203.89 $1,172 +2.89
630 630 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,241 +5.09
670 670 1 196.00 $196.00 $1,313 +14.49
680 value added 680 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,292 —
710–745 732 5 185.00–197.50 $192.37 $1,408 +10.92
828 828 3 186.00 $186.00 $1,540 +2.34
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 1 160.00 $160.00 $328 —
355–375 365 2 140.00–180.00 $160.55 $586 -13.48
465–495 483 3 150.00–167.00 $157.84 $762 -12.16
515 515 1 180.00 $180.00 $927 -0.73
555 555 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,054 +12.99
675–685 680 3 140.00–170.00 $154.07 $1,048 -20.68
720–740 733 3 147.00–170.00 $155.72 $1,141 -14.25
755–780 768 2 154.00–174.00 $163.84 $1,258 -7.84
820–830 825 2 140.00–165.00 $152.58 $1,259 —
855–890 873 2 150.00–156.00 $152.94 $1,335 -8.06
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
110 unweaned 110 1 375.00 $375.00 —
195 unweaned 195 1 425.00 $425.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 71.00 $71.00 $330 —
530 530 1 65.00 $65.00 $344 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120 unweaned 120 1 350.00 $350.00 -0.31
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
210 unweaned 210 1 360.00 $360.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 255.00 $255.00 $701 +19.20
325–330 328 2 235.00 $235.00 $771 +10.12
315–345 value added 330 2 262.00–265.00 $263.57 $870 +12.71
368–395 380 7 210.00–237.50 $223.39 $849 +7.59
355–395 value added 387 5 248.00–258.00 $256.17 $991 +17.96
400–440 422 15 217.50–237.50 $231.90 $979 +12.38
405–445 value added 425 5 240.00–245.00 $243.00 $1,033 +3.48
450–493 475 25 215.00–252.50 $225.97 $1,073 +21.06
504–535 515 13 207.00–218.00 $213.75 $1,101 +6.06
545 value added 545 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,281 —
555 555 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,152 +17.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
195 unweaned 195 1 192.00 $192.00 $374 —
295 295 1 190.00 $190.00 $560 -21.00
310–315 313 2 200.00–230.00 $214.88 $673 +15.40
350–385 368 2 190.00–212.50 $201.79 $743 +7.82
415–430 423 2 217.50–225.00 $221.18 $936 +29.81
458 458 1 190.00 $190.00 $870 +3.03
510–540 516 5 185.00–210.00 $203.28 $1,049 +12.61
550–590 578 4 180.00–200.00 $188.06 $1,087 -1.58
607–626 617 18 170.00–190.00 $182.93 $1,129 -1.84
628 value added 628 3 189.00 $189.00 $1,187 —
650–683 677 7 165.00–188.00 $174.99 $1,185 +10.52
706–711 709 8 163.00–177.00 $170.02 $1,205 -4.63
755 755 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,208 +4.00
800–840 820 2 150.00–152.00 $151.02 $1,238 —
855 855 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,274 —
935 935 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,309 —
992 992 6 144.00 $144.00 $1,428 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 175.00 $175.00 $508 -7.52
315 315 1 175.00 $175.00 $551 —
440 440 1 175.00 $175.00 $770 +8.31
525 525 1 155.00 $155.00 $814 -14.65
555–595 580 8 152.50–170.00 $159.59 $926 -13.78
600–648 626 6 154.00–163.00 $158.40 $992 —
660–695 679 8 145.00–165.00 $157.87 $1,072 -2.14
705–735 728 9 145.00–155.00 $150.02 $1,092 +0.02
750 750 2 156.00 $156.00 $1,170 —
800–810 805 3 140.00–158.00 $147.68 $1,189 +5.68
870 870 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,288 -6.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 1 41.00 $41.00 $193 —
510–515 513 2 50.00–67.00 $58.46 $300 —
710 710 1 80.00 $80.00 $568 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80–95 unweaned 90 3 225.00–350.00 $295.37 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
110 unweaned 110 1 350.00 $350.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 176.00 $176.00 $651 —
425–445 435 2 191.00–200.00 $195.40 $850 +3.67
465–495 480 2 152.00–180.00 $165.56 $795 -27.44
605–608 607 3 155.00–191.00 $179.04 $1,087 +4.58
655–665 660 2 165.00–180.00 $172.56 $1,139 -0.56
715–725 722 3 147.00–155.00 $152.32 $1,100 -11.68
765–795 780 2 144.00–148.00 $145.96 $1,138 —
865 865 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,306 —
920 920 2 134.00 $134.00 $1,233 +24.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–430 428 2 229.00–230.00 $229.50 $982 +9.58
450–487 481 7 220.00–235.00 $225.62 $1,085 —
530 530 1 229.00 $229.00 $1,214 —
590 590 1 227.00 $227.00 $1,339 —
600 600 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,290 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
195 195 —— 1 350.00 $350.00 —
900–1285 1093 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 1,750.00–2,350.00 $1,997.14 —
1535 1535 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 150.00 $150.00 $442 —
455 455 1 130.00 $130.00 $592 -20.00
780 780 1 122.00 $122.00 $952 —
960 960 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,229 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740 740 1 117.00 $117.00 $866 —
795 795 1 70.00 $70.00 $556 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680–695 688 2 80.00 $80.00 $550 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
185 unweaned 185 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
610 610 85-90% 1 30.00 $30.00 $183 —
675–855 763 85-90% 5 25.00–45.00 $37.70 $288 —
780–1060 871 85-90% 5 56.00–63.00 $59.02 $514 +5.94
735–1145 873 85-90% 24 65.00–77.50 $69.19 $604 +16.11
915 915 85-90% 1 80.00 $80.00 $732 +3.17
985 985 85-90% 1 72.50 $72.50 $714 —
835–1390 1021 85-90% 25 79.00–89.00 $81.89 $836 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975–1363 1205 80-85% 20 90.00–100.00 $94.43 $1,138 —
1296–1500 1335 80-85% 9 90.00–98.00 $96.64 $1,290 —
1305–1370 1338 80-85% 2 100.00–104.00 $102.05 $1,365 —
1485 1485 80-85% 1 102.00 $102.00 $1,515 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1420 1368 4 95.00–100.00 $96.87 $1,325 +11.61
1375–1525 1450 2 79.00–90.00 $84.22 $1,221 —
1290–2170 1758 6 103.00–114.50 $108.55 $1,908 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900 900 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 133.00 $133.00 $1,197

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
793 793 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1205 1205 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
720–805 763 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 485.00–700.00 $592.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1023 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,300.00 $1,300.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
703 703 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 500.00 $500.00
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
705 705 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 400.00 $400.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
880 880 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00

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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
645–765 698 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 900.00–950.00 $920.00 —
810 810 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 900.00 $900.00 —
790–885 838 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 825.00–1,000.00 $912.50 —
930–1095 1043 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 900.00–1,020.00 $960.00 -40.00
1050–1120 1096 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 900.00–1,108.00 $977.00 —
915–1265 1116 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,000.00–1,275.00 $1,146.25 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
915–1165 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,275.00–1,300.00 $1,287.50 —
1190 1190 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
970 970 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 800.00 $800.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1065 1065 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 850.00 $850.00 —

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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.