Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, May 12, 2023

612 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $239.91/cwt -2.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,117/hd at 466 lb · 18 head
light 6-weight M&L 2 heifers $152.88/cwt -5.52 vs last sale · ≈ $980/hd at 641 lb · 17 head
light 7-weight M&L 2 heifers $144.51/cwt -5.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,051/hd at 727 lb · 14 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 612 673 755
Feeder cattle 413 465 439
Slaughter cattle 106 135 157
Replacement cattle 93 73 159

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold steady to 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady on limited comparisons. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 3.00-5.00 higher. Trade moderate 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
265–290 282 3 249.00–260.00 $255.28 $720 -3.47
305–345 value added 325 2 257.50–261.00 $259.14 $842 -7.86
310–335 327 7 235.00–253.00 $243.80 $797 -4.70
350–390 361 10 242.50–265.00 $249.15 $899 +1.80
400–438 425 4 235.00–250.00 $240.78 $1,023 +1.09
450–460 value added 458 4 239.00–252.00 $242.20 $1,109 —
450–495 468 14 225.00–250.00 $239.25 $1,120 -3.04
500–545 529 6 217.00–245.00 $232.97 $1,232 -5.17
550–585 574 7 219.00–237.00 $225.95 $1,297 -6.73
600–635 610 5 200.00–224.00 $215.58 $1,315 -9.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
160 unweaned 160 1 240.00 $240.00 $384 —
245 245 1 250.00 $250.00 $612 +36.00
285 285 1 250.00 $250.00 $712 +35.00
363–395 376 4 215.00–230.00 $225.39 $847 +19.45
423–445 430 6 207.50–227.00 $215.42 $926 +5.26
450–495 481 4 200.00–215.00 $208.92 $1,005 -17.77
515–535 523 3 187.00–195.00 $191.01 $999 -5.76
560–590 574 10 195.00–213.00 $207.50 $1,191 +3.61
605–635 623 6 190.00–209.00 $202.74 $1,263 +5.74
665–685 674 6 190.00–197.00 $191.85 $1,293 -4.15
745 745 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,386 -6.37
800–815 805 3 174.00–186.00 $178.05 $1,433 -7.95
850–891 885 7 168.00–170.00 $169.73 $1,502 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 190.00 $190.00 $750 +29.45
405–435 420 2 170.00–175.00 $172.41 $724 —
465–485 475 6 149.00–180.00 $162.61 $772 +4.77
500–545 529 4 150.00–167.50 $160.55 $849 -19.45
533 533 3 135.00 $135.00 $720 -45.00
550 550 1 152.00 $152.00 $836 -38.00
610–628 622 4 146.00–170.00 $153.91 $957 —
632 632 3 148.00 $148.00 $935 —
658–685 665 9 140.00–176.00 $158.01 $1,051 +3.94
710–723 719 3 155.00–168.00 $163.72 $1,177 +8.00
750–795 771 4 153.00–174.00 $167.85 $1,294 +4.01
810 810 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,256 +2.42
930 930 2 135.00–146.00 $140.50 $1,307 —
965 965 1 158.00 $158.00 $1,525 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 79.00 $79.00 $427 +14.00
570 570 1 76.00 $76.00 $433 —
635 635 1 70.00 $70.00 $444 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 185.00 $185.00 $610 +10.00
350 350 1 195.00 $195.00 $682 —
405–445 424 4 150.00–175.00 $161.17 $683 -13.83
475–490 483 5 131.00–172.00 $152.77 $738 —
500–535 518 2 141.00–160.00 $150.18 $778 -4.82
521 521 10 130.00 $130.00 $677 -25.00
550–585 574 6 160.00–170.00 $163.71 $940 +4.12
615–649 641 17 135.00–165.00 $152.88 $980 -5.52
670–685 678 2 140.00–151.00 $145.56 $987 -12.31
710–740 727 14 143.00–154.00 $144.51 $1,051 -5.51
755–795 775 2 137.00–146.00 $141.38 $1,096 -14.62
850–865 860 4 141.00–149.00 $146.99 $1,264 -1.01
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 unweaned 235 1 217.00 $217.00 $510 —
285–295 290 6 227.00–252.50 $242.86 $704 -12.14
300–343 329 5 235.00–245.00 $241.78 $795 +6.78
350–390 371 5 225.00–245.00 $239.94 $890 +16.55
420–425 421 4 232.00–237.50 $235.36 $991 +3.46
405–438 value added 425 6 242.50–245.00 $244.21 $1,038 +1.21
455–495 478 7 207.50–225.00 $216.52 $1,035 -9.45
500–525 515 6 200.00–220.00 $209.28 $1,078 -4.47
565 565 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,243 +12.50
625 625 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,294 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
195 195 1 200.00 $200.00 $390 —
210 210 2 210.00 $210.00 $441 —
250 250 1 210.00 $210.00 $525 —
315–320 318 2 200.00–210.00 $205.04 $652 -9.84
375 375 2 217.50–220.00 $218.75 $820 +16.96
405–445 429 9 190.00–217.00 $204.18 $876 -17.00
475–490 482 5 194.00–215.00 $210.33 $1,014 +20.33
500–515 508 2 194.00–200.00 $196.96 $1,001 -6.32
550–560 555 2 190.00–195.00 $192.52 $1,068 +4.46
605–625 615 4 179.00–192.00 $184.02 $1,132 +1.09
670 670 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,139 -4.99
700–745 723 2 166.00–171.00 $168.42 $1,218 -1.60
790 790 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,264 ±0.00
825 825 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,295 +5.98
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 65.00 $65.00 $280 —
565 565 1 48.00 $48.00 $271 —
605 605 1 87.00 $87.00 $526 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
195 unweaned 195 1 435.00 $435.00 —
225 unweaned 225 1 420.00 $420.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170 unweaned 170 1 350.00 $350.00 —
225 unweaned 225 1 390.00 $390.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75–90 unweaned 83 2 270.00 $270.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
305 305 1 450.00 $450.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–225 218 2 210.00–225.00 $217.76 $475 —
465 465 1 180.00 $180.00 $837 +14.44
555–580 570 3 160.00–197.00 $180.66 $1,030 —
635 635 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,149 +1.96
695 695 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,202 +0.44
705–725 715 2 180.00–186.00 $182.96 $1,308 +30.64
750 750 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,358 +35.04
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 1 141.00 $141.00 $860 —
660 660 1 142.00 $142.00 $937 —
725 725 1 137.00 $137.00 $993 —
760 760 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,003 +10.00
835 835 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,269 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 1 80.00 $80.00 $464 —
665 665 1 106.00 $106.00 $705 —
860 860 2 88.00 $88.00 $757 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–285 275 2 225.00–236.00 $230.70 $634 —
395 395 1 222.00 $222.00 $877 —
495 495 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,114 -0.62
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160–195 unweaned 180 3 410.00–460.00 $428.06 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,015 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120 unweaned 120 1 160.00 $160.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085 1085 80-85% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,150 —
825–1585 1118 80-85% 10 90.50–94.00 $92.94 $1,039 —
985–1260 1120 80-85% 4 91.50–103.00 $98.38 $1,102 —
987–1665 1264 80-85% 29 94.50–104.50 $98.84 $1,249 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
665–745 705 85-90% 2 21.00–35.00 $27.60 $195 —
710–715 713 85-90% 2 30.00–47.50 $38.72 $276 —
830 830 85-90% 1 77.00 $77.00 $639 —
910 910 85-90% 1 65.50 $65.50 $596 -14.50
720–1345 967 85-90% 13 68.00–79.50 $74.26 $718 +1.76
930–1490 1090 85-90% 12 80.00–90.00 $85.63 $933 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1635 1635 75-80% 1 103.00 $103.00 $1,684 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1465 1186 8 72.00–92.00 $83.55 $991 —
1020–1695 1360 6 99.00–108.00 $102.81 $1,398 +5.94
1305–1635 1503 3 115.00–124.00 $120.67 $1,814 —
1615–2100 1802 6 108.00–116.50 $112.82 $2,033 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
825 825 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 132.50 $132.50 $1,093
815–1020 918 (<2 yrs)Open 3 116.00–130.00 $125.33 $1,151

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
775–1025 900 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 850.00–900.00 $875.00
820–1073 989 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 860.00–1,070.00 $1,000.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
605 605 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 450.00 $450.00
730–745 738 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 450.00 $450.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
645 645 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 700.00 $700.00
815 815 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 575.00 $575.00
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1140 1140 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
595 595 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 400.00 $400.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015 1015 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 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
935 935 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00 —
940–1230 1092 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,125.00–1,325.00 $1,233.33 +256.33
945–1370 1107 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 1,270.00–1,425.00 $1,371.82 +225.57
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1025 1025 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,460.00 $1,460.00 +172.50
1205 1205 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,260.00 $1,260.00 —
1215 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
1160–1605 1370 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 1,500.00–1,820.00 $1,696.25 —
1410 1410 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,680.00 $1,680.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
540–690 590 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 600.00–700.00 $633.33 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
820 820 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 525.00 $525.00 —

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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.