Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, October 20, 2023

1,203 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $232.32/cwt +6.10 vs last sale · ≈ $1,320/hd at 568 lb · 29 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $254.26/cwt +6.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,091/hd at 429 lb · 28 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1-2 steers $271.56/cwt -1.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,011/hd at 372 lb · 27 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,203 1,376 1,038
Feeder cattle 814 1,032 804
Slaughter cattle 279 218 153
Replacement cattle 110 126 81

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Feeder steers sold 6.00-8.00 lower. Feeder heifers sold steady on limited comparisons. Slaughter cows sold 7.00-9.00 lower while slaughter bulls sold 2.00-3.00 lower. Trade moderate, demand moderate to 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
225 unweaned 225 1 265.00 $265.00 $596 —
250–283 273 8 270.00–300.00 $287.39 $785 +12.33
315–343 335 7 260.00–287.00 $266.05 $891 -13.93
365 365 2 235.00 $235.00 $858 -37.70
350–393 373 25 257.00–290.00 $274.49 $1,024 +1.79
400–435 417 13 240.00–282.00 $261.28 $1,090 +6.82
450–495 463 25 240.00–272.50 $264.64 $1,225 +10.54
500–543 533 20 220.00–252.00 $234.03 $1,247 -4.05
550–598 568 29 210.00–250.00 $232.32 $1,320 +6.10
605–640 619 7 217.00–228.00 $225.54 $1,396 +8.42
654–675 659 9 210.00–224.00 $213.25 $1,405 +5.51
705–730 718 2 200.00–216.00 $208.14 $1,494 -5.48
765 765 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,584 +4.54
820 820 1 211.00 $211.00 $1,730 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–348 340 19 297.00–317.00 $307.27 $1,045 +4.44
358–395 372 19 287.00–307.00 $293.55 $1,092 -6.22
410–440 420 12 275.00–297.00 $282.82 $1,188 -3.31
450–488 463 10 278.00–285.00 $280.76 $1,300 -4.71
511–540 value added 517 5 274.00–280.00 $275.25 $1,423 —
515–545 531 11 258.00–267.00 $262.23 $1,392 -11.40
560–563 562 4 260.00–272.00 $262.99 $1,478 -9.01
601 value added 601 4 250.00 $250.00 $1,502 —
605–615 610 2 237.00–245.00 $240.97 $1,470 —
660 660 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,518 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 1 240.00 $240.00 $456 —
205–240 220 3 215.00–245.00 $235.68 $518 -35.33
250–280 265 2 217.00–250.00 $234.43 $621 -4.41
300–310 305 2 217.00–230.00 $223.39 $681 -4.02
355–395 375 2 230.00–240.00 $234.73 $880 +21.66
408 408 2 230.00 $230.00 $938 +16.94
455–475 465 3 182.00–222.00 $204.95 $953 -5.05
545 545 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,183 +19.82
565–598 587 3 190.00–195.00 $193.40 $1,135 -12.78
600–630 624 7 180.00–212.00 $186.84 $1,166 -14.52
650–675 660 6 187.00–195.00 $189.80 $1,253 +0.65
705–743 730 7 180.00–196.00 $189.82 $1,386 -4.03
760–770 763 3 191.00–192.00 $191.66 $1,462 +3.15
803–845 813 6 165.00–191.00 $180.00 $1,463 +4.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–485 475 3 80.00–102.00 $94.51 $449 —
510–533 525 3 77.00–80.00 $77.97 $409 -8.03
534 534 5 85.00 $85.00 $454 -1.00
560 560 2 88.00 $88.00 $493 -0.73
603–633 611 8 88.00–90.00 $89.48 $547 +2.48
690 690 1 76.00 $76.00 $524 —
725–730 728 2 74.00–83.00 $78.48 $571 -1.52
845 845 1 85.00 $85.00 $718 —
850–875 863 2 80.00–85.00 $82.54 $712 —
930 930 1 76.00 $76.00 $707 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
168–175 unweaned 170 3 385.00–400.00 $394.86 —
205 unweaned 205 1 410.00 $410.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
268 268 3 385.00 $385.00 —
360 360 1 460.00 $460.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 275.00 $275.00 $632 —
264–298 value added 279 7 264.00–277.00 $269.96 $753 —
250–295 282 6 270.00–282.00 $276.09 $779 +9.31
325–345 340 8 247.00–265.00 $254.60 $866 -0.71
315–346 value added 341 17 267.00–275.00 $267.54 $912 —
355–380 value added 366 14 269.00–275.00 $269.72 $987 —
350–394 378 10 255.00–263.00 $257.83 $975 +5.86
402–446 429 26 245.00–265.00 $252.51 $1,083 +4.28
433 value added 433 2 277.00 $277.00 $1,199 —
481 value added 481 4 257.00 $257.00 $1,236 —
467–497 486 18 232.00–245.00 $239.89 $1,166 +5.59
513–518 515 8 232.00–245.00 $239.89 $1,235 —
559 value added 559 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,286 —
552–564 560 10 223.00–245.00 $230.81 $1,293 —
600 600 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,470 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 unweaned 180 1 242.00 $242.00 $436 —
235 235 1 247.00 $247.00 $580 -0.25
285 285 1 240.00 $240.00 $684 +1.50
347 347 6 234.00 $234.00 $812 -2.13
350–395 364 8 230.00–245.00 $239.68 $872 +1.07
420–445 431 7 210.00–232.00 $220.70 $951 -14.36
450–490 472 6 220.00–227.00 $224.39 $1,059 +3.55
500–545 523 24 205.00–227.00 $218.58 $1,143 +0.72
550–560 557 3 212.00–217.00 $213.65 $1,190 +1.68
605–620 606 13 190.00–200.00 $190.93 $1,157 -12.37
695 695 1 214.00 $214.00 $1,487 +20.79
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 220.00 $220.00 $539 —
255 255 1 209.50 $209.50 $534 -8.00
345 345 1 190.00 $190.00 $656 —
420–435 428 2 185.00–217.00 $200.72 $859 +35.72
505–545 525 2 164.00–197.00 $179.87 $944 -4.61
550–593 574 9 165.00–200.00 $189.02 $1,085 +2.03
626–640 631 9 155.00–182.00 $171.51 $1,082 -11.59
650–690 671 13 152.00–184.00 $163.79 $1,099 -9.34
703–745 735 13 150.00–167.00 $162.81 $1,197 -17.19
837 837 5 160.00 $160.00 $1,339 -21.70
865–875 868 4 147.00–167.00 $161.96 $1,406 -9.58
910–940 917 5 150.00–160.00 $154.05 $1,413 -21.95
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
456–475 460 5 56.00 $56.00 $258 -19.00
505–535 515 5 50.00–92.00 $68.78 $354 —
550 550 1 72.00 $72.00 $396 -9.00
645 645 1 63.00 $63.00 $406 -10.66
660 660 1 49.00 $49.00 $323 -38.00
725 725 1 120.00 $120.00 $870 —
810 810 1 80.00 $80.00 $648 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
285 285 1 450.00 $450.00 —
305 305 3 585.00 $585.00 +200.00
492 492 3 485.00 $485.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
140 unweaned 140 1 350.00 $350.00 +61.50
160–180 unweaned 170 2 350.00–385.00 $366.47 —
225 unweaned 225 1 400.00 $400.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185 unweaned 185 1 220.00 $220.00 $407 —
275 unweaned 275 1 235.00 $235.00 $646 —
550–565 558 2 219.00–220.00 $219.49 $1,225 +21.81
600 600 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,200 +10.38
650 650 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,020 -6.57
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455–465 460 2 137.00–150.00 $143.43 $660 —
550–595 573 2 100.00–130.00 $114.41 $656 —
600–605 603 2 110.00–118.00 $114.02 $688 -27.92
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 275.00 $275.00 $729 +14.00
270 unweaned 270 1 260.00 $260.00 $702 -5.15
320 320 1 275.00 $275.00 $880 —
440 440 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,144 +12.50
520 520 1 227.00 $227.00 $1,180 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 1 92.00 $92.00 $570 —
680 680 1 71.00 $71.00 $483 -9.00
730 730 1 80.00 $80.00 $584 —
760 760 1 95.00 $95.00 $722 +25.00
805 805 1 80.00 $80.00 $644 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 1 100.00 $100.00 $550 —
845 845 1 110.00 $110.00 $930 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680–815 748 85-90% 2 50.00–54.00 $51.82 $388 -2.18
705–880 791 85-90% 4 71.00–80.00 $77.00 $609 +10.69
610–1110 840 85-90% 10 37.00–63.50 $54.86 $461 -6.88
585–1063 914 85-90% 9 60.00–65.00 $61.76 $564 —
780–1590 984 85-90% 40 70.00–80.00 $74.82 $736 -12.59
845–1525 1125 85-90% 84 79.00–89.00 $83.42 $938 —
670–1479 1147 85-90% 14 75.00–90.00 $84.78 $972 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1310 1165 80-85% 3 92.00–96.50 $94.55 $1,102 +2.53
1115–1565 1277 80-85% 3 88.00–91.50 $89.63 $1,145 -18.25
1010–1515 1361 80-85% 42 88.00–98.00 $93.96 $1,279 —
1600 1600 80-85% 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,360 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1535–1640 1588 75-80% 2 84.00–89.00 $86.42 $1,372 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1085 1037 3 90.00–98.00 $95.23 $988 —
1040 1040 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,113 —
1215–1220 1218 2 122.00–135.00 $128.51 $1,565 —
1070–1500 1279 5 84.00–100.00 $91.64 $1,172 —
1090–1945 1580 33 104.00–114.00 $108.67 $1,717 —
1360–1985 1650 4 115.00–124.00 $117.58 $1,940 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830 830 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 120.00 $120.00 $996
795–1020 949 (<2 yrs)Open 10 110.00–130.00 $120.90 $1,147
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
754 754 (<2 yrs)Open 5 141.00 $141.00 $1,063
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,330

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Bred Cows

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
608–735 683 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 700.00–900.00 $820.00
773 773 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,050.00 $1,050.00
810 810 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
845 845 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 800.00 $800.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
810 810 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
905 905 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
795–1185 935 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,135.00–1,400.00 $1,245.00
870–1075 973 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,100.00–1,225.00 $1,162.50
850–1365 991 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,425.00–1,550.00 $1,518.75
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
650–690 670 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 700.00–750.00 $725.00
688 688 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 750.00 $750.00
675–740 727 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 700.00–750.00 $710.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840–845 843 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,050.00–1,075.00 $1,062.50
905–1030 947 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 940.00–975.00 $963.33
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925 925 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,018

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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
920 920 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00 +450.00
850–1115 957 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,475.00–1,700.00 $1,561.67 —
855–1265 1060 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,435.00–1,600.00 $1,517.50 -7.50
1060 1060 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 -125.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
950–1275 1113 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,775.00–1,800.00 $1,787.50 —
1090–1245 1168 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,700.00–1,800.00 $1,750.00 —
1265 1265 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —
1365 1365 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
810–1085 938 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,000.00–1,125.00 $1,041.67 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
725 725 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 800.00 $800.00 —

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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.