Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, September 29, 2023

1,372 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $247.46/cwt -6.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,173/hd at 474 lb · 53 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $245.32/cwt +5.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,298/hd at 529 lb · 44 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $218.98/cwt -6.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,045/hd at 477 lb · 40 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,372 924 994
Feeder cattle 1,026 684 713
Slaughter cattle 261 161 224
Replacement cattle 85 79 57

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers calves sold 4.00-5.00 lower, while heifer calves sold steady. Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady. Slaughter cows sold 6.00-8.00 lower and slaughter bulls sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Trade good demand moderate.

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
265–295 283 6 270.00–300.00 $287.69 $814 +11.54
270–290 283 3 262.00–262.50 $262.34 $742 -13.81
290 290 2 260.00 $260.00 $754 -16.15
305–345 328 35 265.00–302.00 $282.44 $926 +1.66
350–399 383 39 237.00–285.00 $266.02 $1,019 -10.68
405–448 424 19 240.00–272.50 $259.64 $1,101 +8.74
450–495 474 53 227.00–272.50 $247.46 $1,173 -6.46
505–545 529 44 230.00–257.50 $245.32 $1,298 +5.76
550–590 577 14 220.00–250.00 $236.00 $1,362 +4.20
608–637 620 19 224.00–233.00 $227.55 $1,411 -8.01
650–693 667 14 217.00–240.00 $223.64 $1,492 -2.88
700–740 712 6 216.00–227.00 $219.18 $1,561 -5.29
750–770 760 3 204.00–231.00 $220.68 $1,677 —
825 825 1 212.00 $212.00 $1,749 -18.00
850 850 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,700 -36.00
935 935 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,814 +5.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–285 270 8 206.00–250.00 $230.78 $623 +1.08
305–340 321 11 210.00–250.00 $243.84 $783 +3.84
360–395 385 5 200.00–240.00 $210.48 $810 -14.25
400–420 413 4 172.50–230.00 $209.18 $864 -8.57
467–495 483 23 190.00–238.00 $209.97 $1,014 +2.58
515–545 534 19 180.00–220.00 $204.72 $1,093 -0.80
550–588 571 11 160.00–217.50 $195.99 $1,119 -1.51
615–635 623 5 182.00–215.00 $205.29 $1,279 —
655–680 668 2 165.00–200.00 $182.17 $1,217 —
705 705 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,424 —
760–795 784 8 177.50–210.00 $194.33 $1,524 +19.33
815–825 820 2 165.00–197.00 $181.10 $1,485 -8.90
850–870 860 2 170.00–180.00 $175.06 $1,506 +2.06
975 975 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,745 +19.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 320.00 $320.00 $720 —
274 fancy 274 11 320.00 $320.00 $877 —
280–285 283 2 310.00–312.00 $311.01 $880 -3.99
305–345 335 7 305.00–312.50 $308.25 $1,033 -15.43
350–393 372 22 285.00–310.00 $301.27 $1,121 -9.69
400–443 421 23 280.00–303.00 $291.25 $1,226 +4.95
475–490 480 8 275.00–280.00 $278.76 $1,338 -4.52
520–531 526 8 257.50–277.50 $263.68 $1,387 -7.63
675 675 1 232.00 $232.00 $1,566 -16.81
739 739 11 226.00 $226.00 $1,670 -14.23
750 750 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,725 -13.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
325 325 1 350.00 $350.00 —
385 385 1 375.00 $375.00 —
418 418 2 320.00 $320.00 —
510 510 3 385.00 $385.00 —
577 577 5 350.00 $350.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 1 65.00 $65.00 $344 -23.28
630 630 1 96.00 $96.00 $605 +4.30
660 660 1 88.00 $88.00 $581 -2.01
730 730 1 92.00 $92.00 $672 +5.00
750–775 772 8 93.00–103.00 $101.79 $786 +8.79
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
200 unweaned 200 1 410.00 $410.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 240.00 $240.00 $540 -10.00
258–270 259 15 230.00–250.00 $248.61 $644 +5.26
270 unweaned 270 1 220.00 $220.00 $594 —
310–340 328 14 227.50–245.00 $238.29 $782 +2.25
360–399 391 36 210.00–245.00 $232.95 $911 +6.84
400–447 425 33 202.50–242.50 $226.64 $963 +4.02
450–496 477 40 200.00–232.00 $218.98 $1,045 -6.25
505–542 525 21 202.00–230.00 $219.47 $1,152 -3.97
553–590 572 18 206.00–230.00 $213.86 $1,223 -5.15
600–612 611 10 210.00–212.00 $210.20 $1,284 -8.00
654–685 668 14 200.00–215.00 $205.59 $1,373 -2.41
715 715 1 212.00 $212.00 $1,516 —
783 783 2 195.00 $195.00 $1,527 -7.00
847 847 3 191.50 $191.50 $1,622 —
868 868 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,606 —
1013 1013 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,722 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280–295 288 3 257.50–267.00 $261.54 $753 -9.51
300–345 315 3 242.50–247.50 $245.67 $774 +0.38
310–320 value added 317 3 259.00–260.00 $259.33 $822 -6.17
385 value added 385 1 267.50 $267.50 $1,030 —
393–395 393 7 237.00–242.00 $241.28 $948 -6.49
410 value added 410 2 256.00 $256.00 $1,050 +5.45
400–443 419 14 240.00–250.00 $243.83 $1,022 +1.74
450–472 458 30 233.00–240.00 $233.74 $1,071 -12.21
505–525 516 5 237.50–247.50 $239.53 $1,236 +7.53
575 575 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,265 -13.98
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
175–190 183 2 200.00–230.00 $214.38 $392 —
270–290 280 2 180.00–200.00 $189.64 $531 -35.36
310–320 314 4 200.00–210.00 $205.06 $644 +40.06
365–370 368 2 200.00 $200.00 $736 -5.00
415–435 425 2 200.00 $200.00 $850 +3.97
450–492 485 14 175.00–203.00 $194.88 $945 +7.42
513–535 525 8 150.00–194.00 $182.23 $957 -16.92
550–595 578 6 150.00–200.00 $181.55 $1,049 -38.45
625 625 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,106 +0.70
765–775 770 2 175.00–182.00 $178.48 $1,374 +15.98
821–845 824 8 171.00–179.00 $172.03 $1,418 -14.15
855–890 871 4 151.00–175.00 $162.72 $1,417 -5.37
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–495 483 2 65.00–67.00 $66.03 $319 -8.97
577–582 581 10 69.00–87.00 $74.37 $432 +16.88
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120 unweaned 120 1 220.00 $220.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278 278 2 175.00 $175.00 $486 —
370 370 1 180.00 $180.00 $666 —
485 485 3 184.00 $184.00 $892 —
565–570 568 2 170.00–195.00 $182.44 $1,036 -2.60
615–620 617 3 175.00–193.00 $181.03 $1,117 -16.62
655 655 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,127 -10.47
700–710 708 4 160.00–180.00 $164.95 $1,168 —
850 850 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,207 -23.00
930 930 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,302 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 165.00 $165.00 $701 —
555 555 1 160.00 $160.00 $888 —
750–755 753 2 120.00–140.00 $129.97 $979 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 245.00 $245.00 $956 —
485 485 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,043 —
500 500 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,085 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 1 75.00 $75.00 $349 —
525 525 1 92.00 $92.00 $483 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740 740 1 132.00 $132.00 $977 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
65 unweaned 65 1 175.00 $175.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1005 869 85-90% 4 75.00–85.00 $82.11 $714 —
745–1220 919 85-90% 13 50.00–78.00 $67.05 $616 -2.16
835–1150 970 85-90% 11 64.00–74.00 $69.23 $672 -13.51
593–1245 1059 85-90% 49 74.50–85.00 $80.57 $853 -10.18
745–1455 1078 85-90% 15 80.00–98.00 $86.59 $933 -4.16
860–1385 1109 85-90% 75 85.00–93.00 $87.57 $971 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210 1210 80-85% 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,186 —
935–1371 1257 80-85% 18 92.00–94.00 $93.61 $1,177 —
1000–1595 1272 80-85% 21 94.00–103.00 $97.15 $1,236 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1615–1715 1665 75-80% 2 90.00–97.00 $93.39 $1,555 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1155 1078 2 104.00–108.00 $105.86 $1,141 —
1065–1180 1123 2 95.00–98.00 $96.42 $1,083 —
1010–1760 1359 10 91.00–104.00 $99.48 $1,352 —
1435–2025 1635 10 116.00–127.00 $122.16 $1,997 —
1275–2415 1643 13 104.50–115.50 $112.03 $1,841 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805–1020 921 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 103.00–126.00 $112.40 $1,035
660–1090 964 (<2 yrs)Open 7 100.00–125.00 $109.57 $1,056
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
898 898 (<2 yrs)Open 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,257
970–1020 995 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 131.00–136.00 $133.50 $1,328

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,210.00 $1,210.00
1020 1020 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,130.00 $1,130.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790 790 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 110.00 $110.00 $869
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
945 945 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,040
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895 895 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 875.00 $875.00

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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
740–935 838 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,400.00–1,600.00 $1,500.00 —
1125–1435 1278 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 1,500.00–1,800.00 $1,600.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1405–1485 1445 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,000.00–2,125.00 $2,062.50 -137.50
1365–1570 1455 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,700.00–1,800.00 $1,741.67 —
1820 1820 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,030.00 $2,030.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
745 745 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 840.00 $840.00 —

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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.