Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, March 8, 2024

692 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $315.37/cwt -9.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,539/hd at 488 lb · 23 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $264.55/cwt -13.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,783/hd at 674 lb · 18 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $343.11/cwt -8.08 vs last sale · ≈ $1,446/hd at 422 lb · 17 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 692 525 882
Feeder cattle 500 396 673
Slaughter cattle 117 83 114
Replacement cattle 75 46 95

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold 7.00-15.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 5.00-7.00 lower. 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
290 290 2 410.00 $410.00 $1,189 +10.00
300–345 313 5 390.00–410.00 $398.24 $1,246 +10.66
355–398 374 14 360.00–395.00 $380.70 $1,424 +1.84
400–405 value added 403 2 370.00–387.50 $378.70 $1,526 —
400–445 424 15 325.00–355.00 $338.37 $1,435 -12.82
470–498 488 23 295.00–325.00 $315.37 $1,539 —
515–535 519 5 293.00–315.00 $297.54 $1,544 —
555 555 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,637 +5.00
615–645 625 8 252.00–285.00 $265.34 $1,658 -14.23
652–690 674 18 252.00–285.00 $264.55 $1,783 -13.75
708–732 720 6 250.00–277.00 $263.28 $1,896 -7.52
758–783 771 4 250.00–265.00 $257.38 $1,984 +20.88
797 fancy 797 11 239.00 $239.00 $1,905 —
850–880 865 2 210.00–255.00 $232.11 $2,008 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–293 283 9 300.00–357.50 $346.12 $980 +7.74
300–340 324 5 320.00–350.00 $336.11 $1,089 -0.43
353–395 378 14 310.00–350.00 $338.12 $1,278 +21.53
405–435 420 13 283.00–325.00 $300.64 $1,263 -7.13
465–498 482 16 275.00–305.00 $285.08 $1,374 -7.90
505–540 520 12 250.00–295.00 $271.10 $1,410 -24.14
555–598 574 15 250.00–282.00 $267.27 $1,534 +9.92
610–635 621 7 230.00–267.00 $256.04 $1,590 +14.44
660–670 665 2 232.00–233.00 $232.50 $1,546 -3.50
725 725 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,784 —
790 790 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,659 ±0.00
855–860 858 3 191.00–203.00 $199.02 $1,708 +10.02
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 unweaned 295 2 215.00 $215.00 $634 —
305–345 319 5 255.00–300.00 $277.90 $887 +17.90
365–392 377 5 212.50–295.00 $258.74 $975 +3.16
413–420 416 5 225.00–272.00 $253.75 $1,056 +13.40
455–490 476 12 212.00–270.00 $242.56 $1,155 -7.44
510–515 513 2 230.00–245.00 $237.54 $1,219 +2.59
550–595 565 9 202.00–240.00 $230.37 $1,302 —
725 725 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,312 —
750–770 760 2 184.00–188.00 $185.97 $1,413 -11.03
820 820 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,238 —
880 880 1 187.00 $187.00 $1,646 +18.63
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
435 unweaned 435 1 475.00 $475.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 unweaned 210 2 315.00 $315.00 $662 —
300–340 334 15 292.50–322.50 $295.15 $986 -21.85
363–398 377 8 295.00–335.00 $317.08 $1,195 +10.84
410–445 427 3 285.00–305.00 $293.61 $1,254 +3.66
455 455 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,206 -14.16
500–525 512 12 260.00–300.00 $275.53 $1,411 +6.07
550–599 589 5 265.00–267.00 $266.63 $1,570 -12.02
655 655 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,621 —
715 715 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,716 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200–235 217 3 275.00–302.50 $285.12 $619 —
260–275 270 7 280.00–293.00 $286.99 $775 -9.07
305–348 339 5 270.00–285.00 $279.24 $947 -12.00
355–390 381 7 235.00–270.00 $261.57 $997 -16.87
405–430 421 7 245.00–275.00 $268.25 $1,129 +2.00
470–490 475 7 222.00–275.00 $253.03 $1,202 -8.79
535 535 1 227.00 $227.00 $1,214 -18.00
555–595 568 7 195.00–242.00 $219.70 $1,248 -22.28
610–630 623 3 215.00–217.50 $216.68 $1,350 +4.68
740 740 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,536 -7.50
880 880 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,804 +12.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
150 150 1 250.00 $250.00 $375 —
215–235 223 3 225.00–250.00 $234.81 $524 -5.19
255–295 282 3 205.00–235.00 $224.53 $633 -10.47
300 300 1 210.00 $210.00 $630 -14.90
395 395 1 205.00 $205.00 $810 -29.67
435 435 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,044 +3.90
498 498 1 175.00 $175.00 $872 —
560 560 1 164.00 $164.00 $918 -13.54
610–625 618 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,082 +11.05
678 678 6 174.00 $174.00 $1,180 -8.55
725 725 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,232 —
755–770 763 2 170.00–171.00 $170.50 $1,301 -11.50
800–810 804 4 160.00–185.00 $167.79 $1,349 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
210 unweaned 210 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
315 315 1 315.00 $315.00 $992 —
375 375 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,125 —
465–485 474 4 211.00–305.00 $264.43 $1,253 -20.57
520 520 1 190.00 $190.00 $988 -78.87
560 560 1 192.50 $192.50 $1,078 -52.50
610–630 617 3 210.00–262.00 $244.29 $1,507 +61.79
680 680 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,632 +45.00
705–740 723 2 215.00–232.50 $223.96 $1,619 -2.99
815–845 828 3 175.00–232.00 $193.69 $1,604 —
863 863 2 152.00 $152.00 $1,312 —
905 905 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,439 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 1 186.00 $186.00 $902 —
640 640 2 183.00 $183.00 $1,171 —
785 785 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,178 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 2 345.00 $345.00 $1,380 —
470 470 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,457 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
90 unweaned 90 1 600.00 $600.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
210 unweaned 210 1 450.00 $450.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–980 900 80-85% 3 103.00–114.00 $109.09 $982 —
858–1315 943 80-85% 7 112.00–117.00 $114.15 $1,076 —
823–1220 1008 80-85% 18 100.00–110.00 $105.54 $1,064 -2.63
935–1535 1201 80-85% 25 112.00–120.00 $115.59 $1,388 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 85-90% 1 82.00 $82.00 $377 —
628 628 85-90% 2 77.00 $77.00 $484 —
645–790 718 85-90% 2 99.00–101.00 $100.10 $719 +31.10
595–815 721 85-90% 6 80.00–88.00 $84.65 $610 +15.65
600–930 732 85-90% 3 70.00–78.00 $72.42 $530 +3.42
570–980 762 85-90% 3 60.00–67.00 $64.00 $488 -21.63
685–940 843 85-90% 7 90.00–100.00 $93.94 $792 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1530 1530 75-80% 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,377 —
1535–1635 1568 75-80% 3 114.00–117.00 $115.33 $1,808 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1705 1229 4 108.00–116.00 $111.67 $1,372 —
1200–1870 1652 9 119.00–128.00 $126.40 $2,088 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
700–1240 932 (<2 yrs)Open 13 114.00–146.00 $129.46 $1,207
1025 1025 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,363
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
892 892 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 6 100.00 $100.00 $892
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
910–942 930 (<2 yrs)Open 5 156.00–171.00 $166.20 $1,546

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
925–1135 1006 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,550.00–1,775.00 $1,655.00
860–1235 1029 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 1,650.00–1,910.00 $1,755.00
1045–1070 1058 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,600.00–1,750.00 $1,700.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–825 810 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 112.00–117.00 $114.50 $927
1000–1115 1038 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 119.00–127.00 $121.67 $1,263
1108 1108 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 124.00 $124.00 $1,374
1200 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,368
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
670–930 790 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 1,375.00–1,600.00 $1,493.75
965 965 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1025 1025 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
690 690 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,025.00 $1,025.00
625–760 693 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 900.00–925.00 $912.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
710 710 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,051
790 790 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 187.00 $187.00 $1,477

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
805 805 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1020 1020 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 +225.00
1135–1235 1185 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,050.00–2,085.00 $2,067.50 —
1220 1220 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
745 745 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
945 945 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —
995 995 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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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.