Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, October 27, 2023

1,915 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $236.65/cwt -17.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,006/hd at 425 lb · 134 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $267.22/cwt -15.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,114/hd at 417 lb · 98 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $262.84/cwt -17.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,275/hd at 485 lb · 62 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,915 1,203 1,368
Feeder cattle 1,332 814 902
Slaughter cattle 299 279 380
Replacement cattle 284 110 86

Market comments — USDA reporter

Comparing to last weeks sale, steer calves 300-400 lbs were 27.00-33.00 lower and 400-500 lbs sold 15.00-17.00 lower while 500-550 lbs were 24.00 lower. Feeder steers had insufficient numbers to compare. Heifer calves 350-450 lbs sold 10.00-14.00 lower and 450-500 lbs were 5.00 lower, 550-600 lbs sold sharply lower. Feeder heifers had no comparable bunches last week. Trade was moderate on larger numbers with good demand. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-4.00 lower while slaughter bulls sold 4.00 lower. Uneven market with excellent buyer attendance.

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
230–248 245 6 266.00–277.50 $267.80 $656 —
268–280 272 5 272.00–297.00 $278.71 $758 —
304–345 332 32 260.00–290.00 $274.10 $910 -33.17
355–398 387 26 235.00–274.00 $255.70 $990 -37.85
406–445 417 98 235.00–282.00 $267.22 $1,114 -15.60
475–495 485 62 230.00–270.00 $262.84 $1,275 -17.92
500–543 531 37 200.00–243.00 $227.59 $1,209 -34.64
550–573 555 47 207.00–254.00 $249.82 $1,387 -13.17
600–638 616 28 185.00–228.00 $209.36 $1,290 -31.61
660–695 672 3 197.00–197.50 $197.17 $1,325 -32.83
703–730 717 14 167.00–222.00 $197.71 $1,418 —
751–776 756 7 181.50–220.50 $191.58 $1,448 —
810 810 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,458 —
903 903 3 168.00 $168.00 $1,517 —
1080 1080 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,372 —
1112 1112 3 121.00 $121.00 $1,346 —
1360 1360 2 108.00 $108.00 $1,469 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–345 341 4 240.00–245.00 $241.21 $823 -24.84
375–398 385 9 230.00–255.00 $244.00 $939 -30.49
418–430 421 4 220.00–225.00 $221.28 $932 -40.00
454–470 463 12 217.00–222.00 $219.53 $1,016 -45.11
525–542 535 5 185.00–197.50 $189.90 $1,016 -44.13
550–590 570 12 150.00–200.00 $183.84 $1,048 -48.48
605–642 632 5 150.00–173.00 $167.20 $1,057 -58.34
752 752 3 130.00 $130.00 $978 -77.00
830 830 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,162 -71.00
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372 372 3 110.00 $110.00 $409 —
630–639 636 14 157.00–181.00 $174.21 $1,108 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
532 532 6 80.00 $80.00 $426 —
680 680 10 88.00 $88.00 $598 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 337 3 130.00 $130.00 $438 —
350 350 1 162.50 $162.50 $569 —
680 680 3 70.00 $70.00 $476 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 175.00 $175.00 $752 —
627 627 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,317 —
1435 1435 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,578 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,089 —
540 540 1 213.00 $213.00 $1,150 —
700 700 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,208 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 2 177.00 $177.00 $929 -40.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265–294 290 15 257.00–262.50 $258.67 $750 -17.42
324–348 333 30 245.00–257.50 $253.89 $845 -0.71
353–390 372 16 237.00–249.00 $243.24 $905 -14.59
400–448 425 134 220.00–255.00 $236.65 $1,006 -15.86
452–499 475 37 205.00–240.00 $218.53 $1,038 -21.36
510–545 533 49 191.00–230.00 $206.29 $1,100 -33.60
550–585 565 4 161.00–184.00 $174.87 $988 -55.94
600–638 621 9 177.00–210.00 $195.79 $1,216 -49.21
650–698 679 26 160.00–200.00 $174.10 $1,182 —
720 720 3 177.00 $177.00 $1,274 —
760–775 768 2 125.00–167.00 $146.21 $1,123 —
840 840 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,218 —
986 986 4 133.00 $133.00 $1,311 —
1010 1010 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,364 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 2 203.00 $203.00 $680 —
490–492 492 17 150.00–200.00 $189.80 $934 —
583 583 9 174.00 $174.00 $1,014 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331 331 6 235.00 $235.00 $778 +1.00
355–390 373 2 200.00–210.00 $205.23 $766 -34.45
445 445 3 190.00 $190.00 $846 -30.70
465–493 482 5 150.00–225.00 $194.61 $938 -29.78
605 605 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,059 -15.93
656 656 5 136.00 $136.00 $892 —
720 720 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,260 —
903 903 2 110.00 $110.00 $993 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 2 142.50 $142.50 $489 —
490 490 3 75.00 $75.00 $368 —
700 700 1 81.00 $81.00 $567 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 2 237.50 $237.50 $689 -37.50
332 332 10 270.00 $270.00 $896 -5.00
418 418 13 240.00 $240.00 $1,003 -20.00
598 598 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,076 —
618 618 2 142.00 $142.00 $878 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378–390 384 6 250.00–260.00 $254.92 $979 —
565 565 2 165.00 $165.00 $932 -54.49
775 775 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,008 —
830 830 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,245 —
850–895 870 6 60.00–148.00 $132.74 $1,155 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 2 182.50 $182.50 $739 —
610 610 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,098 —
810 810 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,199 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
165 165 2 400.00 $400.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
866–1410 945 85-90% 23 73.00–76.00 $73.89 $698 +12.13
715–1245 975 85-90% 45 50.00–72.00 $65.60 $640 -9.22
826–1465 1040 85-90% 83 74.00–85.00 $80.79 $840 —
915–1430 1175 85-90% 32 84.00–89.00 $85.98 $1,010 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–1315 1165 80-85% 12 93.00–97.00 $95.07 $1,108 +0.52
930–1490 1211 80-85% 56 88.00–94.00 $91.61 $1,109 —
955–1765 1223 80-85% 13 85.00–89.00 $87.54 $1,071 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975–1240 1086 75-80% 5 97.50–115.00 $102.97 $1,118 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1810 1304 6 79.00–89.00 $84.66 $1,104 —
1130–1955 1544 8 90.00–101.00 $94.57 $1,460 —
1175–2145 1714 21 101.00–120.00 $111.14 $1,905 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
575–963 794 (<2 yrs)Open 68 125.00–180.00 $150.10 $1,192
835 835 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,261

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
835–1075 940 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,085.00–1,400.00 $1,203.33
820–1205 1021 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 16 1,035.00–1,500.00 $1,134.06
1020–1170 1095 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,150.00–1,250.00 $1,200.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,020.00 $1,020.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
888–980 969 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 34 2,000.00–2,050.00 $2,005.88
1009 1009 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 2,150.00 $2,150.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
520 520 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 600.00 $600.00
580 580 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 500.00 $500.00
965 965 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
884–990 972 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 47 1,850.00–2,125.00 $2,091.60

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
970–1080 1025 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 800.00–1,300.00 $1,050.00 —
1150–1405 1258 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 1,500.00–1,800.00 $1,608.33 -116.67
1210–1315 1268 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,600.00–1,900.00 $1,766.67 +41.67
1280 1280 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 -125.00
1095–1415 1307 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,300.00–1,600.00 $1,466.67 —
1385 1385 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 -250.00
1410 1410 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
875 875 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
Small 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
885 885 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 600.00 $600.00 —

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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.