Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, May 31, 2024

810 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $253.30/cwt ≈ $1,809/hd at 714 lb · 45 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $267.17/cwt -7.83 vs last sale · ≈ $1,379/hd at 516 lb · 35 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $292.52/cwt +4.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,384/hd at 473 lb · 22 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 810 538 644
Feeder cattle 467 379 420
Slaughter cattle 271 122 156
Replacement cattle 72 37 68

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves sold 25.00-30.00 higher, while heifer calves sold 10.00-15.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifer sold steady to 5.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 3.00-5.00 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
175–191 unweaned 188 6 400.00–450.00 $407.74 $767 —
246 246 4 410.00 $410.00 $1,009 —
270 270 2 405.00 $405.00 $1,094 —
328 value added 328 2 390.00 $390.00 $1,279 —
320–335 330 5 375.00–392.00 $380.32 $1,255 +17.08
362 value added 362 3 400.00 $400.00 $1,448 —
350–380 365 3 380.00–390.00 $383.20 $1,399 +30.68
405–435 414 8 330.00–365.00 $341.32 $1,413 -4.84
422 value added 422 3 400.00 $400.00 $1,688 +30.00
455–490 465 5 330.00–365.00 $347.85 $1,618 +11.82
536 536 19 306.00 $306.00 $1,640 -16.08
552–595 565 6 295.00–330.00 $312.97 $1,768 +12.97
610–645 628 2 260.00–270.00 $264.86 $1,663 -6.11
655–690 673 2 250.00–263.00 $256.33 $1,725 +1.06
701–730 714 45 250.00–260.00 $253.30 $1,809 —
795 795 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,988 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 unweaned 250 1 337.50 $337.50 $844 —
255 255 1 365.00 $365.00 $931 —
300 unweaned 300 1 275.00 $275.00 $825 —
314–320 315 5 330.00–340.00 $337.97 $1,065 +30.44
375–392 385 5 285.00–345.00 $327.21 $1,260 +32.21
400–435 425 7 257.00–325.00 $292.57 $1,243 +16.60
450–495 473 22 267.50–315.00 $292.52 $1,384 +4.66
505–535 517 8 265.00–302.00 $288.53 $1,492 +9.04
550–585 570 9 257.00–285.00 $271.58 $1,548 +6.14
610–635 621 9 245.00–255.00 $252.64 $1,569 +4.27
655–680 667 5 233.00–246.00 $239.85 $1,600 -9.47
705–718 714 3 225.00–231.00 $229.02 $1,635 +19.02
770 770 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,617 +5.03
820 820 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,804 ±0.00
1065 1065 4 160.00 $160.00 $1,704 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–340 333 2 227.00–265.00 $245.57 $818 +20.57
375–380 378 2 270.00–285.00 $277.45 $1,049 +47.28
510–545 523 3 240.00–245.00 $243.36 $1,273 +8.78
550–595 570 4 240.00–250.00 $245.61 $1,400 —
660 660 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,445 —
765–797 781 6 186.00–213.00 $199.22 $1,556 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 150.00 $150.00 $540 —
420 420 1 172.50 $172.50 $724 —
585 585 1 104.00 $104.00 $608 —
815–848 837 3 113.00 $113.00 $946 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
155 unweaned 155 1 460.00 $460.00 -115.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
178–195 187 6 375.00–380.00 $377.39 $706 —
190–195 unweaned 193 2 300.00–320.00 $310.13 $599 —
285 285 2 310.00 $310.00 $884 —
335 value added 335 2 340.00 $340.00 $1,139 —
355 355 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,083 +15.00
400–440 418 11 275.00–315.00 $282.70 $1,182 +24.70
460–495 474 7 255.00–285.00 $266.78 $1,265 +7.61
500–532 516 35 260.00–277.50 $267.17 $1,379 -7.83
575–592 585 5 250.00–255.00 $251.97 $1,474 —
603–630 619 9 230.00–241.00 $238.33 $1,475 +1.85
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 1 302.50 $302.50 $711 —
290 290 1 280.00 $280.00 $812 +21.80
300 300 1 280.00 $280.00 $840 +12.60
360–365 363 2 242.00–260.00 $251.06 $911 -1.84
415–445 430 2 235.00–245.00 $240.17 $1,033 -9.17
455–490 470 4 230.00–255.00 $241.50 $1,135 -1.59
503–545 529 14 236.00–259.00 $254.14 $1,344 +12.14
566–569 567 11 240.00–241.00 $240.54 $1,364 +0.77
621–640 624 14 220.00–242.00 $222.08 $1,386 -2.90
658 658 2 242.00 $242.00 $1,592 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 200.00 $200.00 $750 —
445 445 1 220.00 $220.00 $979 +1.25
455 455 1 192.00 $192.00 $874 —
520 520 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,144 —
803 803 5 187.50 $187.50 $1,506 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
130–140 unweaned 135 2 435.00–500.00 $466.30 +10.79
165–185 unweaned 170 5 500.00–560.00 $536.50 -13.50
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 1 95.00 $95.00 $446 —
534 534 3 90.00 $90.00 $481 —
560 560 1 95.00 $95.00 $532 —
620 620 1 95.00 $95.00 $589 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
165 unweaned 165 1 600.00 $600.00 —
210–225 unweaned 218 2 620.00–625.00 $622.41 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 290.00 $290.00 $957 +45.00
425 425 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,211 +25.00
470–480 475 2 222.50–282.00 $251.94 $1,197 -14.41
505 505 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,288 -7.00
550–585 565 3 265.00–290.00 $278.13 $1,571 -8.55
630 630 1 267.00 $267.00 $1,682 +18.00
655 655 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,670 +40.00
790 790 2 185.00–240.00 $212.50 $1,679 +15.42
900–910 905 2 155.00–165.00 $159.97 $1,448 -8.51
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
200–205 unweaned 203 4 600.00–725.00 $651.39 —
390 unweaned 390 2 660.00 $660.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
55 unweaned 55 1 400.00 $400.00 —
120–140 unweaned 128 3 425.00–500.00 $453.90 -49.21
195 unweaned 195 1 560.00 $560.00 +18.08
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
200 unweaned 200 1 350.00 $350.00 $700 —
255 unweaned 255 1 322.50 $322.50 $822 —
280 280 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,008 —
350 unweaned 350 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,208 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 1 154.00 $154.00 $970 —
810 810 1 120.00 $120.00 $972 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655–665 660 2 107.50–150.00 $128.59 $849 -41.41
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
330 330 1 400.00 $400.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
660–1100 896 80-85% 7 117.00–121.00 $118.78 $1,064 —
910–1180 1112 80-85% 8 120.00–125.00 $124.28 $1,382 -16.03
880–1590 1229 80-85% 27 124.00–134.00 $126.50 $1,555 —
810–1720 1268 80-85% 49 113.00–123.50 $119.59 $1,516 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
685–760 733 85-90% 3 74.00–79.00 $76.75 $563 -3.05
688–995 737 85-90% 17 109.00–122.00 $118.16 $871 +38.36
745–860 785 85-90% 4 83.00–90.00 $87.80 $689 -5.61
805 805 85-90% 1 96.00 $96.00 $773 -8.23
680–1290 850 85-90% 29 105.00–114.00 $110.96 $943 +16.28
785–1040 884 85-90% 4 91.00–96.00 $94.02 $831 -0.66

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 1 127.50 $127.50 $1,524 —
1000–2385 1401 15 106.00–135.00 $126.09 $1,767 -14.15
1035–1905 1526 18 135.50–146.50 $141.89 $2,165 —
1450–2245 1863 13 147.00–157.00 $149.78 $2,790 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
713–955 765 (<2 yrs)Open 29 155.00–175.00 $168.47 $1,289
635–965 811 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 22 137.00–170.00 $144.68 $1,173
790–858 841 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 126.00–131.00 $127.25 $1,070
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
675–855 756 (<2 yrs)Open 7 180.00–190.00 $185.21 $1,400
1050 1050 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,880

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Bred Cows

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
740–820 804 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 950.00–1,000.00 $960.00
905 905 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,160.00 $1,160.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915 915 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,199
945 945 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,247
950 950 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,226
960 960 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,152
1105 1105 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,370
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865–950 915 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,350.00–1,550.00 $1,433.33
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895 895 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00

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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
825 825 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
885 885 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 -250.00
725–946 902 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 1,550.00–1,625.00 $1,565.00 —
860–1275 1028 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,283.33 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
850–1000 930 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,100.00–2,325.00 $2,200.00 —
1020–1130 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,850.00–1,875.00 $1,862.50 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
630–685 658 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —

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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.