Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, August 18, 2023

667 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 3-weight M&L 1 steers $300.26/cwt +6.37 vs last sale · ≈ $1,110/hd at 370 lb · 37 head
light 3-weight M&L 1-2 steers $296.30/cwt +9.65 vs last sale · ≈ $941/hd at 318 lb · 26 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $212.93/cwt +5.43 vs last sale · ≈ $1,319/hd at 619 lb · 21 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 667 762 529
Feeder cattle 379 468 274
Slaughter cattle 159 145 193
Replacement cattle 129 149 62

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves sold 5.00-7.00 higher while heifer calves sold steady to 4.00 lower on limited comparison. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-4.00 lower while slaughter bulls sold 6.00-8.00 lower. Trade and demand good.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230–238 235 4 290.00–315.00 $306.39 $720 -12.20
255 unweaned 255 1 252.00 $252.00 $643 —
250–283 270 4 270.00–300.00 $288.48 $779 +0.12
300–339 317 25 285.00–305.00 $298.15 $945 +11.50
335 335 1 250.00 $250.00 $838 -36.65
355–370 364 7 260.00–287.00 $274.04 $998 +4.61
445 445 2 241.00–245.00 $243.00 $1,081 —
460 460 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,012 -23.00
455–495 481 5 257.50–260.00 $258.97 $1,246 +15.97
505–540 521 13 220.00–260.00 $247.08 $1,287 +5.21
555–575 564 8 222.50–250.00 $235.78 $1,330 —
600–635 613 3 232.50–247.00 $238.48 $1,462 +11.65
655–695 676 8 204.00–232.50 $219.19 $1,482 -6.64
705–730 720 5 205.00–230.00 $217.05 $1,563 -0.46
750–765 758 2 209.00–219.00 $214.05 $1,622 —
880 880 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,778 -0.98
900–915 908 2 192.50–193.00 $192.75 $1,750 +2.28
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 1 322.50 $322.50 $871 +4.27
315–320 318 4 310.00–327.50 $319.06 $1,015 +9.69
350–390 369 36 295.00–312.50 $300.41 $1,109 +6.52
390 unweaned 390 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,150 —
420–445 441 7 280.00–285.00 $280.68 $1,238 -6.11
485–490 488 2 277.50–280.00 $278.76 $1,360 -4.40
500–530 517 3 266.00–271.00 $268.36 $1,387 -13.79
575 575 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,509 +5.76
645 fancy 645 5 250.00 $250.00 $1,612 —
660 660 1 236.00 $236.00 $1,558 -15.00
715 715 1 233.00 $233.00 $1,666 —
855–860 858 2 202.00–220.00 $211.03 $1,811 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 225.00 $225.00 $450 —
270–280 275 2 227.00–230.00 $228.47 $628 +42.47
330 330 2 160.00–200.00 $180.00 $594 -20.00
355–383 368 3 202.50–224.00 $215.60 $793 +50.60
425 425 2 207.50 $207.50 $882 —
450–498 475 4 149.00–202.00 $184.48 $876 -10.52
510–540 523 4 170.00–200.00 $187.37 $980 +5.93
575–590 583 2 191.00–208.00 $199.61 $1,164 +8.08
625 625 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,125 -20.00
718 718 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,465 +11.45
750 750 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,148 -20.71
815–840 832 3 175.00–195.00 $185.74 $1,545 +5.66
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 85.00 $85.00 $323 —
490–495 493 2 89.00–97.00 $92.98 $458 —
535–540 538 2 76.00–89.00 $82.47 $444 -2.53
550 550 1 85.00 $85.00 $468 -2.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160–190 unweaned 171 4 360.00–400.00 $374.93 +24.93
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
375 375 1 360.00 $360.00 —
450 450 1 490.00 $490.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170 unweaned 170 1 400.00 $400.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 267.00 $267.00 $681 -0.50
320 320 1 230.00 $230.00 $736 -7.50
365–395 376 4 230.00–245.00 $235.49 $885 -1.76
440 440 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,060 +11.00
455–495 475 2 237.00–245.00 $240.83 $1,144 +11.81
500–540 520 6 210.00–235.00 $221.47 $1,152 +3.33
555–575 562 3 207.00–220.00 $211.44 $1,188 -10.16
600–640 617 13 204.00–216.00 $209.19 $1,291 +1.69
623 value added 623 8 219.00 $219.00 $1,364 —
650–679 675 13 207.00–220.00 $212.83 $1,437 +2.29
705–730 713 5 197.00–205.00 $202.39 $1,443 +22.39
810 810 2 192.00–203.50 $197.75 $1,602 —
860 860 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,656 —
955 955 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,757 +2.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
243 243 1 277.00 $277.00 $673 —
260–290 274 7 270.00–277.50 $271.14 $743 -13.69
305–335 320 4 266.00–270.00 $267.49 $856 -8.76
365–395 376 6 250.00–268.00 $260.87 $981 -12.82
430–445 440 5 247.00–255.00 $249.30 $1,097 -20.82
475–495 482 3 250.00–257.00 $252.40 $1,217 -7.87
725 725 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,552 +3.66
775 775 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,628 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
205 205 2 215.00 $215.00 $441 +2.50
205 unweaned 205 1 167.00 $167.00 $342 —
260 260 1 147.00 $147.00 $382 -23.00
355 355 1 180.00 $180.00 $639 -20.00
400–420 410 2 190.00–200.00 $194.88 $799 +10.62
450–465 458 2 180.00–185.00 $182.46 $836 +22.46
535–545 540 2 167.50–200.00 $183.60 $991 +13.34
600–610 604 3 165.00–174.00 $167.99 $1,015 -12.19
650–695 672 3 157.00–186.00 $174.29 $1,171 +5.22
705–740 722 3 182.00–188.00 $184.12 $1,329 +16.62
788 788 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,340 +20.00
865–870 868 2 161.00–180.00 $170.53 $1,480 —
900 900 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,350 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
130–140 unweaned 133 4 230.00–275.00 $241.89 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
150 unweaned 150 1 260.00 $260.00 -140.00
305 305 1 400.00 $400.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 87.00 $87.00 $474 —
610 610 1 71.00 $71.00 $433 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
385 385 1 385.00 $385.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–435 430 2 220.00–240.00 $230.12 $990 —
520 520 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,014 —
605–635 623 3 180.00–191.00 $185.40 $1,155 —
715 715 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,162 -5.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 275.00 $275.00 $921 —
370 370 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,092 —
450 450 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,170 +19.00
575 575 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,150 -54.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 1 150.00 $150.00 $870 —
825 825 1 120.00 $120.00 $990 —
855 855 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,154 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
105 unweaned 105 1 275.00 $275.00 -125.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
715 715 1 460.00 $460.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–935 843 85-90% 2 82.00–85.00 $83.66 $705 —
660–1033 868 85-90% 4 63.50–70.00 $65.70 $570 —
780–1160 906 85-90% 10 68.00–75.00 $71.31 $646 -13.28
610–1169 907 85-90% 15 36.00–75.00 $67.41 $611 -17.18
760–1435 1031 85-90% 38 79.00–89.00 $83.27 $859 -11.91
805–1435 1143 85-90% 42 88.00–98.00 $93.26 $1,066 —
1015–1390 1203 85-90% 4 90.00–104.00 $96.44 $1,160 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–1260 1070 80-85% 17 100.50–117.00 $106.35 $1,138 +1.09
930–1310 1127 80-85% 3 100.00 $100.00 $1,127 —
1075–1190 1136 80-85% 4 113.00–115.00 $114.53 $1,301 —
990–1485 1146 80-85% 34 104.00–112.00 $107.03 $1,227 —
980–1550 1232 80-85% 23 97.00–103.00 $100.61 $1,240 -11.25

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1850 1265 20 80.00–105.00 $93.11 $1,178 —
1135–2010 1559 12 108.00–117.00 $112.01 $1,746 +12.17
1560–1705 1633 2 126.00–128.00 $127.04 $2,075 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835–1040 912 (<2 yrs)Open 3 140.00–163.00 $151.00 $1,377
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
675–900 788 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 120.00–130.00 $125.00 $985
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
965 965 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,071
995 995 (<2 yrs)Open 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,094

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
925–1080 1003 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,350.00–1,450.00 $1,412.50
1005 1005 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745 745 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 460.00 $460.00

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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
985–1055 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,300.00–1,575.00 $1,420.00 -370.00
1015 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 -690.00
960–1160 1060 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,100.00–1,250.00 $1,175.00 -618.57
1025–1125 1063 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 1,100.00–1,250.00 $1,150.00 -643.57
925–1160 1070 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,100.00–1,225.00 $1,183.75 -609.82
1100 1100 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1080 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,610.00 $1,610.00 -410.00
1115 1115 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,750.00 $1,750.00 ±0.00
1590 1590 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
850–900 875 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 725.00–835.00 $780.00 —
920 920 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
790 790 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
895 895 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00 —

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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.