Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 1, 2023

1,226 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 $218.74/cwt -3.76 vs last sale · ≈ $938/hd at 429 lb · 40 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $210.71/cwt -1.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,136/hd at 539 lb · 36 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $249.54/cwt +17.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,328/hd at 532 lb · 36 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,226 1,502 1,448
Feeder cattle 790 869 1,058
Slaughter cattle 219 405 261
Replacement cattle 217 228 129

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale two weeks ago: Steer and heifer calves sold 7.00-10.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady on comparable quotes. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to 1.00-2.00 higher. Trade and 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
290 value added 290 2 310.00 $310.00 $899 —
291 291 4 280.00 $280.00 $815 —
313–342 324 15 265.00–307.00 $279.06 $904 —
350–390 368 14 262.00–307.50 $284.46 $1,047 +15.67
355–395 value added 385 8 270.00–310.00 $279.22 $1,075 —
400–448 428 23 239.00–267.00 $254.91 $1,091 +12.60
450–495 470 21 234.00–265.00 $249.62 $1,173 +19.03
508–545 520 12 223.00–252.50 $239.74 $1,247 +13.00
520–546 value added 538 24 251.00–258.00 $254.44 $1,369 +19.44
555–588 value added 579 7 232.00–257.00 $238.85 $1,383 —
568–590 582 11 224.00–241.00 $231.96 $1,350 +3.60
610–635 626 12 218.00–230.00 $223.45 $1,399 +2.12
665–685 680 12 212.00–220.00 $213.07 $1,449 -3.34
715–745 737 6 197.00–215.00 $206.74 $1,524 -7.95
760–790 775 2 205.00–209.00 $207.04 $1,605 +10.53
820 820 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,640 -0.10
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290–295 293 2 227.50–230.00 $228.74 $670 -2.84
320–345 331 5 255.00–260.00 $257.01 $851 +24.62
350–395 369 32 220.00–257.00 $239.70 $884 +3.79
420–448 442 9 225.00–237.00 $229.99 $1,017 +0.98
450–497 482 16 200.00–245.00 $222.48 $1,072 -2.40
505–530 517 3 200.00–217.00 $206.33 $1,067 -14.61
555–598 579 15 200.00–223.00 $213.25 $1,235 -3.02
600–630 613 5 192.00–210.00 $202.14 $1,239 +4.41
650–675 662 3 192.00–207.00 $200.26 $1,326 +5.21
730 730 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,307 -2.60
753–790 768 6 180.00–205.00 $189.98 $1,459 +19.03
815–818 817 5 185.00–195.00 $188.99 $1,544 +10.58
908 908 2 152.00 $152.00 $1,380 -8.00
998 998 3 152.50 $152.50 $1,522 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 80.00 $80.00 $332 —
505 505 1 80.00 $80.00 $404 +30.00
570 570 17 72.50 $72.50 $413 —
600–638 625 3 69.00–70.00 $69.68 $436 —
750–794 781 6 81.00 $81.00 $633 —
800 800 1 75.00 $75.00 $600 +3.00
975 975 1 81.00 $81.00 $790 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
165 165 1 202.50 $202.50 $334 —
230 230 1 205.00 $205.00 $472 +10.00
295 unweaned 295 1 167.50 $167.50 $494 —
330–345 338 2 185.00–190.00 $187.44 $634 -6.30
400–430 415 2 185.00–200.00 $192.77 $800 +6.12
465–490 478 2 175.00–180.00 $177.43 $848 +7.21
510–520 515 2 171.00–180.00 $175.46 $904 +7.08
580 580 3 160.00 $160.00 $928 —
635 635 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,143 +10.91
675 675 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,148 -2.13
745 745 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,266 -3.43
765 765 2 167.00 $167.00 $1,278 +27.00
943 943 3 148.50 $148.50 $1,400 +14.46
970 970 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,406 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
125 125 1 380.00 $380.00 —
145 unweaned 145 1 300.00 $300.00 —
190 unweaned 190 1 360.00 $360.00 +66.32
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
215 215 1 300.00 $300.00 —
300–325 313 2 350.00–360.00 $354.80 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
215 unweaned 215 1 485.00 $485.00 -50.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170 unweaned 170 1 225.00 $225.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 2 227.00 $227.00 $760 -3.17
350–380 367 5 220.00–234.00 $225.77 $829 +5.77
400–445 429 40 215.00–237.00 $218.74 $938 -3.76
455–495 473 8 220.00–242.00 $227.41 $1,076 +10.91
500–546 539 36 206.00–235.00 $210.71 $1,136 -1.79
554–570 560 9 210.00–218.00 $212.70 $1,191 —
603–623 607 18 203.00–214.00 $207.89 $1,262 +5.52
730–745 737 32 180.00–200.00 $198.87 $1,466 +10.72
865 865 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,514 -12.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
233–235 233 5 215.00–220.00 $218.99 $510 +6.89
255–287 278 10 200.00–222.50 $216.58 $602 -3.42
315–340 324 16 200.00–212.00 $203.60 $660 -5.44
348 value added 348 3 218.00 $218.00 $759 —
370–380 372 7 195.00–222.00 $214.39 $798 +4.80
405–440 424 15 185.00–212.00 $203.80 $864 +10.56
508–535 512 7 190.00–195.00 $194.25 $995 -2.92
565 565 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,045 -1.14
603–645 617 3 170.00–190.00 $176.97 $1,092 -5.16
670 670 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,119 -15.15
700–735 718 2 165.00–167.00 $165.98 $1,192 +0.29
752–790 773 14 150.00–173.00 $156.26 $1,208 -6.28
810–823 820 6 163.00–168.00 $164.57 $1,349 —
899 899 5 152.00 $152.00 $1,366 -3.58
907–945 913 6 144.00–161.00 $146.93 $1,341 -14.07
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 1 190.00 $190.00 $456 +15.00
270 270 1 195.00 $195.00 $526 +9.73
310–343 335 7 177.00–190.00 $181.46 $608 +6.22
378–385 381 5 142.50–160.00 $155.96 $594 -25.52
445 445 1 160.00 $160.00 $712 -13.77
535–538 537 5 150.00–180.00 $172.22 $925 +7.22
550–590 567 3 150.00–166.00 $159.51 $904 +6.51
635 635 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,080 +23.99
665 665 2 140.00 $140.00 $931 -11.72
745 745 2 157.00 $157.00 $1,170 +7.00
815–820 818 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,227 +4.02
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
455–470 462 3 300.00–350.00 $316.43 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473 473 2 88.00 $88.00 $416 —
560 560 1 60.00 $60.00 $336 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
180 unweaned 180 1 340.00 $340.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410–435 424 4 165.00–185.00 $180.16 $764 —
470–495 483 2 192.00–210.00 $200.77 $970 —
585–590 588 2 185.00–198.00 $191.53 $1,126 +11.53
740 740 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,391 —
820 820 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,312 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 32.00 $32.00 $155 —
790 790 1 50.00 $50.00 $395 —
815 815 1 58.00 $58.00 $473 —
900 900 1 60.00 $60.00 $540 —
1045 1045 1 79.00 $79.00 $826 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–835 828 2 105.00–108.00 $106.49 $882 +26.49
930 930 1 87.00 $87.00 $809 —
990 990 1 80.50 $80.50 $797 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885 885 1 70.00 $70.00 $620 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,238 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610–870 760 85-90% 7 35.00–50.00 $42.68 $324 —
883 883 85-90% 4 70.00 $70.00 $618 —
910 910 85-90% 1 56.00 $56.00 $510 —
700–1070 920 85-90% 16 62.00–72.00 $66.05 $608 —
790–1025 921 85-90% 8 51.00–60.00 $56.93 $524 —
913–1090 970 85-90% 26 74.00–79.00 $76.32 $740 +21.39
705–1680 1064 85-90% 56 72.50–82.50 $78.07 $831 +0.96
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735–1185 989 80-85% 6 83.00–85.00 $83.86 $829 —
871–1490 1034 80-85% 29 84.00–94.00 $89.45 $925 +6.73
810–1675 1201 80-85% 41 85.00–95.00 $88.64 $1,065 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1720 1720 75-80% 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,514 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920 920 1 90.00 $90.00 $828 —
1025–1665 1310 11 80.00–90.00 $86.77 $1,137 —
1140–1875 1565 11 93.00–101.00 $95.53 $1,495 -10.23
1540–2155 1783 4 105.00–113.00 $108.22 $1,930 —
1835 1835 1 97.50 $97.50 $1,789 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
738–1135 817 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 120.00–130.00 $128.00 $1,046
920 920 (<2 yrs)Open 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,012
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735 735 (<2 yrs)Open 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,095

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
855–995 966 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,500.00–1,700.00 $1,575.00
1138 1138 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,600.00 $1,600.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
805–935 892 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,135.00–1,200.00 $1,178.33
868–1000 904 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,025.00–1,300.00 $1,187.50
960 960 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00
925 925 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00
980 980 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
485–825 655 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 275.00–400.00 $337.50
815 815 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 425.00 $425.00
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
650–715 683 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 500.00–600.00 $550.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 945.00 $945.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815 815 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,182

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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
1030 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00 -237.50
995–1115 1055 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,175.00–1,300.00 $1,237.50 —
880–1160 1090 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,475.00–1,500.00 $1,493.75 —
890–1275 1102 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,200.00–1,475.00 $1,300.00 +60.00
1181–1315 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 16 1,075.00–1,350.00 $1,139.06 -152.61
1265 1265 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —
1250–1346 1293 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 18 1,300.00–1,350.00 $1,322.22 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1126 1126 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,760.00 $1,760.00 —
1240 1240 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
575 575 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 500.00 $500.00 —
620–665 643 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 500.00 $500.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
880 880 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 875.00 $875.00 —
1035 1035 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 920.00 $920.00 +20.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1145 1145 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —

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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.