Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, April 26, 2024

500 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 $268.41/cwt +7.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,277/hd at 476 lb · 30 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $292.96/cwt +6.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,234/hd at 421 lb · 27 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $288.78/cwt -38.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,349/hd at 467 lb · 20 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 500 706 692
Feeder cattle 380 524 502
Slaughter cattle 98 150 124
Replacement cattle 22 32 66

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last weeks sale; Steer calves 300-400 lbs sharply higher and 400-600 lbs sold 15.00 lower to sharply lower. Steer yearlings had insufficient numbers to compare . Heifer calves 300-400 lbs sold steady to 15.00 higher and 400-500 lbs were 8.00-12.00 higher while 500-600 lbs sold 8.00-18.00 higher. Feeder heifers 600-700 lbs were 3.00-10.00 higher on small numbers to compare. Trade was active with good demand on smaller numbers. Slaughter cows sold steady to 4.00 lower instances 3.00 higher and slaughter bulls were 10.00 higher. Market was moderate with excellent buyer attendance.

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
270–280 273 3 324.00–360.00 $337.83 $922 -11.17
310–340 329 10 327.50–370.00 $343.73 $1,131 +3.67
350 unweaned 350 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,085 —
360–395 373 7 320.00–360.00 $334.55 $1,248 +11.21
400–445 417 3 295.00–335.00 $312.76 $1,304 -11.99
450–495 467 20 280.00–302.00 $288.78 $1,349 —
505–538 523 12 270.00–290.00 $283.49 $1,483 -1.51
550–585 567 9 222.00–266.00 $252.00 $1,429 —
625 625 1 226.00 $226.00 $1,412 -21.50
605–630 626 6 255.00–285.00 $280.17 $1,754 +32.67
655–685 667 8 245.00–265.00 $249.09 $1,661 —
700–745 723 2 227.00–242.00 $234.27 $1,694 -8.23
840 840 3 222.00 $222.00 $1,865 —
855–895 869 4 182.00–220.00 $199.92 $1,737 —
1270 1270 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,714 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 1 200.00 $200.00 $570 -125.00
300 300 1 250.00 $250.00 $750 -58.79
395 395 1 220.00 $220.00 $869 -60.85
430 430 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,118 -24.16
453–490 472 4 260.00–280.00 $270.39 $1,276 -4.33
500 500 4 257.00 $257.00 $1,285 -8.24
570 570 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,140 -59.45
645 645 4 259.00 $259.00 $1,671 +14.89
895 895 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,790 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 2 204.00 $204.00 $628 —
350–380 365 2 217.50–242.00 $230.25 $840 —
435 435 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,262 —
455–480 468 2 247.00–260.00 $253.33 $1,186 —
515 515 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,112 —
1015 1015 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,695 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 1 306.00 $306.00 $1,071 —
360 360 1 250.00 $250.00 $900 —
435 435 1 200.00 $200.00 $870 —
465 465 1 262.50 $262.50 $1,221 —
530 530 1 287.00 $287.00 $1,521 —
605 605 1 209.00 $209.00 $1,264 —
890 890 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,789 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 157.00 $157.00 $526 —
390 390 1 130.00 $130.00 $507 -109.28
415 415 1 170.00 $170.00 $706 -81.22
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
685 685 2 167.00 $167.00 $1,144 —
750 750 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,688 —
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
300 300 2 585.00 $585.00 —
490 490 1 540.00 $540.00 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 116.00 $116.00 $505 —
530 530 1 80.00 $80.00 $424 —
550 550 1 92.00 $92.00 $506 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 1 200.00 $200.00 $860 —
560 560 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,215 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 1 220.00 $220.00 $957 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–270 267 3 300.00–310.00 $303.25 $810 -6.75
360–390 373 6 275.00–302.00 $291.25 $1,086 +8.79
390 unweaned 390 1 242.00 $242.00 $944 —
400 400 1 245.00 $245.00 $980 -28.90
406–447 422 26 282.00–307.00 $294.80 $1,244 +20.90
465 unweaned 465 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,070 —
453–488 476 27 268.00–281.00 $271.83 $1,294 +10.53
480 value added 480 1 283.00 $283.00 $1,358 —
480 480 1 200.00 $200.00 $960 -61.30
510–545 535 11 220.00–261.00 $251.69 $1,347 -0.97
555–594 568 16 245.00–273.00 $260.27 $1,478 +7.11
610–635 627 3 236.00–250.00 $245.46 $1,539 +12.28
665 665 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,297 -41.80
665–697 689 4 230.00–242.00 $239.10 $1,647 +2.30
726–740 731 6 220.00–230.00 $223.38 $1,633 +0.38
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 3 267.00 $267.00 $1,183 +16.00
480 480 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,104 -16.70
512–545 520 4 260.00–262.50 $261.85 $1,362 +24.92
555 555 1 137.50 $137.50 $763 -100.40
630 630 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,040 -54.85
660 660 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,122 -38.53
685 685 1 111.00 $111.00 $760 -97.53
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 1 170.00 $170.00 $646 -63.36
525 525 1 155.00 $155.00 $814 -55.56
624 624 4 102.00 $102.00 $636 -80.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
145 145 1 625.00 $625.00 —
175–185 180 2 700.00 $700.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 1 229.00 $229.00 $1,477 —
830 830 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,245 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 1 237.50 $237.50 $819 —
390 390 1 195.00 $195.00 $760 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
658 658 2 85.00 $85.00 $559 —
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
385 385 1 525.00 $525.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 292.50 $292.50 $1,141 +2.50
450 450 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,215 —
520 520 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,300 -6.18
590–598 595 3 242.00–250.00 $244.64 $1,456 +8.94
670–675 673 2 232.50–265.00 $248.81 $1,674 +36.15
705–715 710 2 205.00–207.00 $205.99 $1,463 —
765–770 768 3 191.00–213.00 $198.30 $1,523 +20.62
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
130 130 —— 1 670.00 $670.00 —
163 163 —— 3 650.00 $650.00 —
185 185 —— 2 700.00–975.00 $837.50 —
260 260 —— 1 800.00 $800.00 —
635 635 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 700.00 $700.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605 605 —— 1 202.50 $202.50 $1,225 —
860 860 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,462 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 217.00 $217.00 $846 —
430 430 1 267.00 $267.00 $1,148 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730 730 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,475 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655 655 85-90% 1 81.00 $81.00 $531 —
680–860 770 85-90% 2 74.50–75.00 $74.78 $576 —
780–855 805 85-90% 4 77.00–85.00 $81.22 $654 -30.82
820–900 860 85-90% 2 118.00–119.00 $118.52 $1,019 +20.98
735–1418 1033 85-90% 17 90.00–116.00 $104.88 $1,083 —
1085 1085 85-90% 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,204 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–895 880 80-85% 2 114.50–120.00 $117.20 $1,031 —
890 890 80-85% 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,112 —
870–980 925 80-85% 2 104.00–113.00 $108.77 $1,006 —
950–1200 1075 80-85% 2 106.50–109.00 $107.90 $1,160 -10.47
990–1260 1139 80-85% 7 111.00–120.00 $116.57 $1,328 -8.62
1295 1295 80-85% 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,645 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1585 1319 75-80% 8 130.00–139.00 $134.24 $1,771 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1580 1357 9 109.00–129.00 $119.27 $1,618 —
1340–1975 1669 11 130.00–143.00 $135.69 $2,265 —
1645–2150 1947 3 142.00–150.00 $145.54 $2,834 +5.24

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
570–935 741 (<2 yrs)Open 9 135.00–177.00 $157.00 $1,163
815–1120 955 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 136.00–190.00 $162.00 $1,547

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
665 665 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00
810 810 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00
840–1080 927 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,450.00–1,525.00 $1,491.67

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
925 925 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
755 755 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
755 755 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00 -50.00

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605 605 2 95.00 $95.00 $575 —

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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.