Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, March 22, 2024

530 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $290.98/cwt +31.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,377/hd at 473 lb · 28 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $277.62/cwt +20.37 vs last sale · ≈ $1,562/hd at 563 lb · 25 head
light 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $299.41/cwt +8.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,009/hd at 337 lb · 14 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 530 730 553
Feeder cattle 432 601 340
Slaughter cattle 55 90 153
Replacement cattle 43 39 60

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves sold 7.00-12.00 lower on limited comparisons, while heifer calves sold 4.00-6.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold 5.00-7.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to 1.00-2.00 higher Trade moderate 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
230 230 2 386.00 $386.00 $888 —
275–284 282 5 350.00–367.50 $364.09 $1,027 -15.94
300–343 334 13 350.00–357.50 $352.12 $1,176 -13.82
365 365 2 335.00 $335.00 $1,223 -18.74
400–445 426 12 320.00–342.50 $333.99 $1,423 +6.46
455–480 469 5 292.50–315.00 $303.20 $1,422 +0.34
501–533 513 11 310.00–317.50 $312.84 $1,605 +15.74
515 value added 515 2 337.50 $337.50 $1,738 +51.50
575–580 578 2 273.00–290.00 $281.46 $1,627 -7.95
613–645 632 8 258.00–272.50 $264.35 $1,671 -9.86
800 800 2 218.00 $218.00 $1,744 -6.69
935 935 1 215.00 $215.00 $2,010 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
195 195 1 357.50 $357.50 $697 —
260–290 272 3 296.00–342.00 $313.67 $853 -21.14
310–340 325 2 300.00–325.00 $313.08 $1,018 -9.19
355–385 372 5 275.00–310.00 $291.13 $1,083 -26.01
400–445 425 13 262.00–317.00 $292.92 $1,245 -17.60
453–480 464 4 277.50–292.00 $284.97 $1,322 -0.01
540 540 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,404 -10.41
550–567 562 5 242.00–254.00 $249.86 $1,404 -20.15
605–648 634 4 240.00–250.00 $245.86 $1,559 -5.72
702–710 705 5 213.50–220.00 $217.38 $1,533 —
835 835 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,670 +10.00
850 850 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,760 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 200 1 290.00 $290.00 $580 —
285 285 1 275.00 $275.00 $784 —
335 335 3 250.00–290.00 $268.33 $899 —
395 395 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,007 +21.12
408–443 421 12 212.00–240.00 $234.45 $987 -19.38
495 495 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,163 -6.28
500–530 510 3 225.00–236.00 $232.19 $1,184 +20.68
592 592 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,391 -3.35
635 635 1 232.00 $232.00 $1,473 —
650 650 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,430 —
730 730 1 198.00 $198.00 $1,445 +8.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 unweaned 80 1 350.00 $350.00 —
130 unweaned 130 1 500.00 $500.00 ±0.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225–230 228 2 300.00–322.50 $311.37 $710 —
273 value added 273 2 335.00 $335.00 $915 —
255–285 278 5 300.00–320.00 $308.99 $859 -1.83
290 thin fleshed 290 3 320.00 $320.00 $928 —
305–347 337 14 292.50–305.00 $299.41 $1,009 +8.41
370–371 value added 371 5 315.00–320.00 $316.00 $1,172 —
390–392 391 6 277.00–299.00 $286.64 $1,121 +12.06
420 value added 420 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,260 —
400–445 422 5 262.00–297.50 $280.04 $1,182 +10.12
465–470 value added 468 7 305.00–310.00 $306.42 $1,434 —
450–493 475 21 266.00–294.00 $285.83 $1,358 +26.45
510–540 525 4 262.00–270.00 $266.73 $1,400 -3.06
550 value added 550 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,595 —
551–590 561 17 255.00–277.00 $272.50 $1,529 +15.25
572 fancy 572 6 288.00 $288.00 $1,647 —
600–605 603 3 230.00–235.00 $231.66 $1,397 -8.34
685 685 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,507 —
803 803 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,646 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 295.00 $295.00 $664 -5.00
250–280 262 3 250.00–257.50 $252.68 $662 -25.64
320–335 323 5 250.00–275.00 $255.78 $826 +10.09
355–395 375 13 247.00–262.50 $251.27 $942 -8.46
400–435 415 3 237.00–265.00 $250.28 $1,039 -12.36
465–473 472 11 250.00–260.00 $258.20 $1,219 +18.00
520–540 530 2 250.00–271.00 $260.70 $1,382 +28.67
570 570 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,282 -1.79
620 620 2 212.00 $212.00 $1,314 -3.83
665 665 1 196.00 $196.00 $1,303 -26.00
850 850 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,632 —
950 950 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,544 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–290 268 4 190.00–245.00 $213.41 $572 -6.59
320–325 324 4 220.00–225.00 $222.49 $721 -12.51
383–385 384 3 220.00–240.00 $226.69 $870 +1.54
400–415 407 3 190.00–235.00 $214.77 $874 -10.34
515–540 528 2 192.00–200.00 $196.09 $1,035 -28.91
635 635 8 185.00 $185.00 $1,175 -10.97
680–695 688 2 150.00–191.00 $170.28 $1,172 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
218 218 4 650.00 $650.00 —
263–293 278 4 675.00–790.00 $735.60 —
420 420 1 650.00 $650.00 +115.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160 unweaned 160 1 550.00 $550.00 —
205–245 unweaned 225 2 500.00–600.00 $545.56 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,058 —
447 447 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,118 —
455–475 465 2 227.00–250.00 $238.75 $1,110 +12.95
520–545 533 2 212.50–222.00 $217.14 $1,157 -40.83
550–590 568 4 245.00–285.00 $265.66 $1,509 —
600 600 2 237.00–265.00 $251.00 $1,506 +9.38
660 660 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,518 +11.00
710–720 715 2 187.00–210.00 $198.42 $1,419 -10.14
800 800 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,312 -31.00
895 895 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,548 —
925–945 935 2 160.00–175.00 $167.58 $1,567 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 3 312.50 $312.50 $1,241 —
445 445 1 305.00 $305.00 $1,357 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
175 175 1 500.00 $500.00 —
250 250 3 770.00 $770.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890 890 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,335 —
970 970 1 122.50 $122.50 $1,188 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 1 135.00 $135.00 $837 —
710 710 1 130.00 $130.00 $923 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
145 unweaned 145 1 750.00 $750.00 —
225 unweaned 225 1 775.00 $775.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 unweaned 85 1 500.00 $500.00 —
235 unweaned 235 1 525.00 $525.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890 890 80-85% 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,068 +8.00
845–1245 999 80-85% 13 117.00–142.00 $129.64 $1,295 —
960–1070 1015 80-85% 2 124.00–126.00 $124.95 $1,268 —
915–1545 1231 80-85% 6 125.00–134.00 $127.74 $1,572 —
1435 1435 80-85% 1 137.00 $137.00 $1,966 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565–655 610 85-90% 2 86.00–90.00 $88.15 $538 +4.58
625–750 668 85-90% 3 85.00–95.00 $90.30 $603 —
695–975 835 85-90% 2 95.00–105.00 $99.16 $828 —
745–995 888 85-90% 3 100.00–109.00 $103.36 $918 +30.82

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1790 1555 2 142.00–144.00 $143.15 $2,226 —
1095–1980 1564 4 129.00–137.00 $133.82 $2,093 —
1420–1745 1583 2 124.00–128.00 $125.79 $1,991 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
555–965 824 (<2 yrs)Open 10 153.00–164.00 $159.70 $1,316
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
605–1140 767 (<2 yrs)Open 10 130.00–148.00 $139.20 $1,068

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
785 785 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
800–903 886 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,325.00–1,400.00 $1,387.50
735–1035 887 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,250.00–1,525.00 $1,375.00
1040 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,190.00 $1,190.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
680 680 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 121.00 $121.00 $823
690–880 785 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 127.50–129.00 $128.25 $1,007
925–1430 1178 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 126.00–128.00 $127.00 $1,496
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
935 935 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1000–1223 1149 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,575.00–1,650.00 $1,625.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
665 665 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 800.00 $800.00
875 875 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
770 770 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
840 840 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
970 970 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
760 760 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00 -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.