Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 8, 2023

998 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $252.69/cwt -2.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,097/hd at 434 lb · 43 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 2 heifers $172.59/cwt +16.63 vs last sale · ≈ $649/hd at 376 lb · 30 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 steers $277.76/cwt -4.80 vs last sale · ≈ $1,001/hd at 361 lb · 25 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 998 1,226 810
Feeder cattle 735 790 573
Slaughter cattle 173 219 147
Replacement cattle 90 217 90

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves were 5.00-7.00 higher, while heifer calves were steady to 2.00 lower. Feeder steers and heifers sold 5.00- 9.00 lower. 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
260–290 280 3 295.00–300.00 $298.45 $836 +18.45
300–335 value added 318 2 317.00–322.00 $319.36 $1,016 —
300–348 332 20 265.00–315.00 $283.27 $940 +4.21
350–360 value added 355 2 315.00–317.00 $316.01 $1,122 +36.79
355–380 361 23 260.00–285.00 $274.43 $991 -10.03
400–448 434 43 247.00–277.00 $252.69 $1,097 -2.22
450–486 472 24 240.00–262.00 $251.78 $1,188 +2.16
503–529 521 24 229.00–250.00 $240.17 $1,251 +0.43
550–555 value added 553 2 257.00–260.00 $258.51 $1,430 +19.66
555–593 574 6 225.00–252.00 $238.35 $1,368 +6.39
615 615 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,414 +6.55
665–680 669 4 215.00–217.00 $216.49 $1,448 +3.42
720 720 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,440 -6.74
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230–245 235 3 227.00–250.00 $238.74 $561 —
253–295 268 7 250.00–285.00 $269.86 $723 +41.12
300–340 316 13 220.00–260.00 $235.85 $745 -21.16
350–395 368 25 220.00–260.00 $239.42 $881 -0.28
420–446 440 20 232.00–245.00 $236.80 $1,042 +6.81
450–495 462 10 210.00–235.00 $227.65 $1,052 +5.17
505 505 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,111 +13.67
559–580 567 14 208.00–228.00 $222.94 $1,264 +9.69
605–645 632 9 195.00–215.00 $202.13 $1,277 -0.01
675–698 689 6 190.00–211.00 $202.60 $1,396 +2.34
715–740 729 4 187.00–196.00 $190.29 $1,387 +11.29
755–785 770 2 176.00–187.00 $181.61 $1,398 -8.37
805–835 822 3 175.00–178.00 $176.65 $1,452 -12.34
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
173 173 2 220.00 $220.00 $381 +17.50
233–235 234 4 210.00–212.00 $211.00 $494 +6.00
265–290 273 3 160.00–200.00 $184.88 $505 —
310–340 328 3 180.00–215.00 $198.38 $651 +10.94
360 360 1 170.00 $170.00 $612 —
403–420 412 8 157.00–210.00 $195.77 $807 +3.00
480 480 3 170.00–185.00 $180.00 $864 +2.57
500–525 517 3 168.00–190.00 $179.32 $927 +3.86
585–590 587 3 162.00–185.00 $176.35 $1,035 +16.35
615–635 625 5 160.00–189.00 $173.41 $1,084 -6.59
683–690 684 5 165.00–168.00 $165.60 $1,133 -4.40
703–725 710 4 143.00–170.00 $152.89 $1,086 -17.11
760–785 780 6 164.00–177.00 $166.33 $1,297 -0.67
830 830 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,428 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 75.00 $75.00 $311 -5.00
493–495 494 7 55.00–62.00 $58.14 $287 —
580 580 1 80.00 $80.00 $464 +7.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170 170 1 375.00 $375.00 —
185 unweaned 185 1 400.00 $400.00 +40.00
200 unweaned 200 1 350.00 $350.00 —
220 220 1 375.00 $375.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
125 unweaned 125 2 210.00 $210.00 —
195 unweaned 195 1 250.00 $250.00 +25.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
305–320 313 2 400.00–450.00 $424.40 +69.60
410 410 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
195 195 2 200.00 $200.00 $390 —
235 235 2 220.00 $220.00 $517 +1.01
270–275 273 3 207.00 $207.00 $565 -9.58
315–328 324 4 190.00–210.00 $202.63 $657 -0.97
380–390 385 2 190.00–200.00 $195.06 $751 -19.33
400–423 408 11 187.00–202.00 $188.37 $769 -15.43
450–495 473 9 180.00–215.00 $198.50 $939 —
500–543 524 8 180.00–190.00 $185.38 $971 -8.87
550–575 563 10 181.00–200.00 $189.81 $1,069 +4.81
600–635 612 7 170.00–183.00 $176.70 $1,081 -0.27
660–686 672 13 170.00–182.00 $176.00 $1,183 +9.00
705–733 719 4 160.00–178.00 $169.18 $1,216 +3.20
753–770 757 13 160.00–177.00 $170.77 $1,293 +14.51
860 860 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,419 —
925–930 928 2 155.00–160.00 $157.49 $1,462 +10.56
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–280 278 2 167.00–177.00 $172.05 $478 -22.95
305–345 324 10 152.00–185.00 $167.96 $544 -13.50
361–395 376 30 155.00–190.00 $172.59 $649 +16.63
415–440 431 10 150.00–187.00 $173.31 $747 +13.31
495 495 2 155.00–160.00 $157.50 $780 —
520–535 530 6 157.00–179.00 $163.61 $867 -8.61
555–595 575 2 157.00–170.00 $163.27 $939 +3.76
615–630 626 4 143.00–157.00 $152.47 $954 -17.53
650 650 1 150.00 $150.00 $975 +10.00
719 719 4 135.00 $135.00 $971 -22.00
831 831 4 143.00 $143.00 $1,188 -7.00
915–925 919 5 132.00–150.00 $139.25 $1,280 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263 263 2 220.00 $220.00 $579 —
328 328 6 220.00 $220.00 $722 -7.00
351–395 368 11 205.00–230.00 $219.98 $810 -5.79
435 435 4 205.00 $205.00 $892 -13.74
475 475 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,021 -12.41
525–530 530 11 202.00–215.00 $203.17 $1,077 -7.54
570 570 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,254 +7.30
745 745 2 184.00 $184.00 $1,371 -14.87
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 60.00 $60.00 $222 —
458–493 476 4 50.00–70.00 $59.63 $284 -28.37
609 609 6 40.00 $40.00 $244 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
165 unweaned 165 1 325.00 $325.00 -15.00
208–220 unweaned 211 4 285.00–375.00 $308.46 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
100–110 unweaned 105 2 200.00–225.00 $213.10 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
340 340 1 435.00 $435.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 190.00 $190.00 $826 +9.84
495 495 1 190.00 $190.00 $940 -10.77
500–520 510 3 175.00–207.00 $193.95 $989 —
730 730 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,219 -21.00
805 805 1 122.00 $122.00 $982 -38.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 52.00 $52.00 $252 +20.00
725 725 1 45.00 $45.00 $326 —
850 850 1 70.00 $70.00 $595 —
985 985 1 85.00 $85.00 $837 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,058 —
510–540 525 2 220.00–230.00 $224.86 $1,181 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670 670 1 142.00 $142.00 $951 —
820–830 825 2 122.00–142.00 $131.94 $1,089 +25.45
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
145 unweaned 145 1 250.00 $250.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
455 455 1 250.00 $250.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–1055 873 85-90% 6 53.00–60.00 $56.66 $495 -13.34
825–965 884 85-90% 5 41.00–58.00 $52.93 $468 -17.07
890–975 913 85-90% 5 64.00–70.00 $68.13 $622 +12.13
730–1340 1017 85-90% 43 64.00–70.50 $67.18 $683 —
925–1160 1049 85-90% 4 76.00–82.00 $79.15 $830 —
895–1298 1108 85-90% 32 72.00–81.00 $77.13 $855 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–1735 1156 80-85% 11 82.00–85.00 $83.66 $967 —
860–1420 1158 80-85% 20 82.00–98.00 $88.75 $1,028 —
1200 1200 80-85% 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,200 +11.36
1226 1226 80-85% 5 86.00 $86.00 $1,054 -2.64
970–1615 1239 80-85% 22 86.00–97.00 $90.66 $1,123 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165 1165 1 82.00 $82.00 $955 —
1095–1775 1408 16 72.50–91.00 $84.55 $1,190 —
1125–1825 1518 14 92.00–102.00 $97.22 $1,476 —
1695–2265 1900 3 103.00–106.00 $104.49 $1,985 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
710 710 (<2 yrs)Open 4 141.00 $141.00 $1,001
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820 820 (<2 yrs)Open 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,091
750–1045 898 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 122.00–127.00 $124.50 $1,118

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1060–1275 1114 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 68.00–75.00 $69.75 $777
1170 1170 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 92.00 $92.00 $1,076
1253 1253 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 93.00 $93.00 $1,165
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
915–1095 975 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,200.00–1,425.00 $1,293.75
988–1050 1019 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,300.00–1,450.00 $1,375.00
1140–1585 1363 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,400.00–1,500.00 $1,450.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
905 905 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
868–1075 951 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,000.00–1,125.00 $1,055.00
1085 1085 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 850.00 $850.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1170 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00
880–1515 1303 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,550.00–1,600.00 $1,583.33
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
835 835 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
950 950 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845 845 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,293
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
480 480 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 350.00 $350.00

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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
1005 1005 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 +50.00
1005–1170 1083 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,210.00–1,450.00 $1,353.33 -140.42
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
805 805 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 910.00 $910.00 —
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 +225.00

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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.