Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, April 5, 2024

679 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $255.98/cwt ≈ $1,583/hd at 618 lb · 26 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $319.04/cwt -5.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,474/hd at 462 lb · 25 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $280.99/cwt -11.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,657/hd at 590 lb · 22 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 679 508 785
Feeder cattle 514 320 628
Slaughter cattle 107 115 121
Replacement cattle 58 73 36

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold 20.00-25.00 lower. Feeder steers and heifers sold 10.00-15.00 lower. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 3.00-4.00 lower. Trade good demand moderate.

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
305–332 326 7 330.00–355.00 $346.59 $1,130 -29.12
361 value added 361 5 370.00 $370.00 $1,336 —
360–395 379 14 315.00–355.00 $332.44 $1,260 -10.91
410–445 430 11 310.00–340.00 $317.22 $1,364 -27.85
453 value added 453 6 333.00 $333.00 $1,508 -17.00
453–488 465 19 300.00–332.00 $314.63 $1,463 -7.00
511–540 518 12 310.00–318.00 $313.50 $1,624 -12.43
550–586 579 5 280.00–285.00 $280.95 $1,627 -11.36
593 value added 593 17 281.00 $281.00 $1,666 —
600–625 608 18 260.00–285.00 $276.86 $1,683 -2.07
655–665 659 4 240.00–256.00 $249.46 $1,644 -11.21
703 value added 703 16 256.00 $256.00 $1,800 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 unweaned 250 1 320.00 $320.00 $800 —
290 290 1 335.00 $335.00 $972 —
310–340 326 8 290.00–329.00 $311.24 $1,015 +1.77
373–385 379 8 287.00–302.00 $292.49 $1,109 +2.49
400–440 424 7 285.00–300.00 $294.90 $1,250 +3.05
460–485 472 7 257.00–300.00 $272.10 $1,284 -7.01
510–526 524 18 255.00–300.00 $287.09 $1,504 -7.45
550–595 582 18 243.00–269.00 $259.00 $1,507 -0.14
607–645 617 20 210.00–268.00 $252.67 $1,559 —
623 623 6 267.00 $267.00 $1,663 —
665–690 681 5 212.00–235.00 $224.52 $1,529 +12.52
715–730 722 4 210.00–227.50 $219.41 $1,584 -9.62
765–770 768 3 220.00–230.00 $223.65 $1,718 +6.13
802 802 5 225.00 $225.00 $1,804 —
890 890 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,691 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–290 270 2 270.00–300.00 $283.89 $767 —
310–342 334 4 230.00–260.00 $236.96 $791 -23.04
350–385 368 2 235.00–255.00 $244.52 $900 +4.56
400–430 415 2 230.00 $230.00 $954 -18.57
505–525 518 4 210.00–235.00 $223.64 $1,158 +15.03
555–590 573 2 201.00–230.00 $215.94 $1,237 -14.06
610–640 620 4 180.00–207.00 $188.56 $1,169 —
740 740 2 204.50 $204.50 $1,513 —
755 755 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,548 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
123 unweaned 123 2 500.00 $500.00 -25.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 2 117.00 $117.00 $515 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 1 305.00 $305.00 $702 —
255–295 275 4 272.00–290.00 $277.47 $763 —
310–340 330 3 262.00–270.00 $267.25 $882 -27.75
355–395 371 18 240.00–285.00 $264.83 $983 +14.83
431–440 433 6 245.00–262.00 $259.12 $1,122 +13.88
455–498 466 21 237.00–265.00 $252.36 $1,176 +0.04
510–520 518 10 240.00–252.00 $244.20 $1,265 -15.57
555–580 570 4 225.00–245.00 $231.76 $1,321 -3.24
607 value added 607 3 238.00 $238.00 $1,445 —
610 610 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,281 -17.50
628 628 12 232.00 $232.00 $1,457 +4.50
715–745 724 5 189.00–200.00 $194.75 $1,410 —
751 751 4 217.00 $217.00 $1,630 +9.67
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 value added 320 4 307.50 $307.50 $984 —
305–345 321 6 287.00–300.50 $294.07 $944 -31.28
375 375 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,106 -15.69
400–433 413 14 262.50–290.00 $274.44 $1,133 -16.81
418 value added 418 6 300.00 $300.00 $1,254 -17.25
503–535 514 10 265.00–272.00 $266.18 $1,368 -7.64
565–595 581 12 252.00–258.00 $256.74 $1,492 -18.26
600 600 2 257.00 $257.00 $1,542 —
675 675 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,654 —
705 705 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,551 +6.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 250.00 $250.00 $550 -10.00
274 274 3 245.00 $245.00 $671 ±0.00
360–370 365 2 215.00–230.00 $222.40 $812 -22.60
460 460 1 205.00 $205.00 $943 —
520–545 533 3 210.00–237.00 $219.71 $1,171 -10.29
560–590 575 2 209.00–211.00 $210.03 $1,208 —
620 620 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,240 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
183 183 2 725.00 $725.00 —
210 unweaned 210 1 500.00 $500.00 —
200–220 213 3 650.00–700.00 $684.38 —
328 328 2 775.00 $775.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
537 537 3 104.00 $104.00 $558 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458 458 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,328 —
565–585 572 3 257.00–265.00 $260.66 $1,491 +18.16
610–623 619 5 203.00–240.00 $219.20 $1,357 -22.57
670 670 1 212.00 $212.00 $1,420 -16.80
725 725 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,290 -17.00
760–775 768 2 188.00–197.50 $192.80 $1,481 —
828–835 832 4 170.00–188.00 $181.97 $1,514 -2.37
855 855 1 189.00 $189.00 $1,616 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 342.50 $342.50 $1,164 —
395 395 1 314.00 $314.00 $1,240 -11.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675–695 685 2 117.50–120.00 $118.77 $814 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
235 unweaned 235 1 700.00 $700.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
135 unweaned 135 1 475.00 $475.00 -100.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,446 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640–830 736 85-90% 5 80.00–91.00 $88.32 $650 —
670–875 745 85-90% 4 89.00–107.00 $100.04 $745 —
655–845 760 85-90% 12 78.00–93.00 $84.58 $643 -44.42
760–945 853 85-90% 5 94.00–105.00 $99.95 $853 -11.23
810–1150 931 85-90% 13 107.00–117.00 $114.04 $1,062 —
950 950 85-90% 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,083 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1035 1005 80-85% 3 123.00–126.00 $124.63 $1,253 +0.05
1005–1110 1056 80-85% 6 119.00–128.00 $122.47 $1,293 —
990–1505 1233 80-85% 12 126.00–136.00 $132.10 $1,629 —
980–1520 1237 80-85% 8 124.00–133.00 $128.88 $1,594 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005 1005 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,327 -3.00
1105–1615 1347 7 117.00–131.00 $123.70 $1,666 —
1570–2145 1808 6 134.00–144.00 $139.90 $2,529 —
1630–2190 1850 4 146.00–159.00 $152.25 $2,817 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
580–850 762 (<2 yrs)Open 9 141.00–155.00 $150.00 $1,143
760–940 850 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,105
940 940 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,137
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805–900 867 (<2 yrs)Open 3 160.00–175.00 $170.00 $1,474
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
525 525 (<2 yrs)Open 1 120.00 $120.00 $630

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Bred Cows

Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
632 632 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 800.00 $800.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915–1015 973 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 123.00–133.00 $127.33 $1,239
1080 1080 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,458
1230 1230 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,611
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
810–1015 895 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,500.00–1,800.00 $1,650.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765 765 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00
925 925 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
960–1150 1055 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,400.00–1,550.00 $1,475.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
825–1235 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,610.00–1,800.00 $1,705.00 -95.00
910–1285 1098 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,275.00–2,500.00 $2,387.50 —
1375–1495 1422 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,250.00–2,300.00 $2,275.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
650 650 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
930 930 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
495 495 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 625.00 $625.00 —

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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.