Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 6, 2024

1,204 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 $318.81/cwt -0.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,484/hd at 466 lb · 38 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $300.74/cwt -1.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,598/hd at 531 lb · 37 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $327.84/cwt +6.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,382/hd at 422 lb · 32 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,204 1,374 998
Feeder cattle 898 890 735
Slaughter cattle 189 257 173
Replacement cattle 117 227 90

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: Steer and heifer calves sold 20.00-25.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold 18.00-22.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00-2.00 higher while slaughter bulls sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Trade and demand active.

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
195 fancy 195 2 360.00 $360.00 $702 —
205 unweaned 205 1 350.00 $350.00 $718 —
235–240 238 3 405.00 $405.00 $964 —
260 value added 260 2 430.00 $430.00 $1,118 —
250–280 fancy 261 4 390.00–405.00 $398.71 $1,041 —
250–285 268 2 360.00–365.00 $362.34 $971 +2.34
310–320 fancy 313 3 370.00–390.00 $380.00 $1,189 —
305–335 315 9 340.00–360.00 $349.93 $1,102 +12.82
305–325 value added 315 2 395.00–415.00 $404.68 $1,275 +39.68
305–340 unweaned 321 7 320.00–337.00 $329.47 $1,058 +9.62
355–380 fancy 376 9 350.00–370.00 $364.24 $1,370 —
365–395 383 14 325.00–345.00 $336.97 $1,291 -3.78
397 value added 397 3 347.00 $347.00 $1,378 —
400–443 420 24 310.00–330.00 $323.86 $1,360 +12.06
400–438 value added 426 8 335.00–350.00 $339.76 $1,447 +8.54
450–470 value added 460 4 325.00 $325.00 $1,495 -8.69
451–488 fancy 461 19 321.00–322.00 $321.58 $1,482 +11.58
450–495 473 15 300.00–320.00 $313.64 $1,484 -2.41
508–530 value added 515 3 318.00–320.00 $318.69 $1,641 +4.96
505–540 fancy 519 5 310.00–315.00 $312.08 $1,620 +2.08
500–548 535 29 287.00–306.00 $296.93 $1,589 +2.71
562 fancy 562 5 315.00 $315.00 $1,770 +19.00
555–598 582 15 287.00–300.00 $289.87 $1,687 +17.54
600–630 value added 622 5 280.00–290.00 $282.94 $1,760 +9.03
605–645 622 3 256.00–272.00 $266.03 $1,655 +7.36
668 value added 668 5 268.00 $268.00 $1,790 —
668–680 670 6 268.00–275.00 $269.18 $1,804 +12.66
737–746 value added 742 7 237.00–245.00 $240.40 $1,784 +0.40
750–790 770 2 230.00–240.00 $235.13 $1,811 +11.13
830 830 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,847 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–225 218 3 335.00–350.00 $339.81 $741 —
228 unweaned 228 2 280.00 $280.00 $638 —
285 285 1 310.00 $310.00 $884 +2.59
305–330 unweaned 319 5 270.00–275.00 $274.04 $874 —
300–345 324 5 285.00–305.00 $292.96 $949 -9.25
355–375 368 6 290.00–310.00 $299.11 $1,101 +9.01
400–440 418 6 287.00–302.00 $294.34 $1,230 +9.48
455–495 473 15 275.00–296.00 $288.57 $1,365 +9.06
500–535 517 15 280.00–292.00 $286.04 $1,479 +10.54
550–598 585 11 265.00–282.50 $270.52 $1,583 +7.05
602–649 634 17 230.00–250.00 $241.69 $1,532 +12.72
650–695 677 15 235.00–255.00 $242.95 $1,645 +25.25
705–745 719 9 225.00–230.00 $227.26 $1,634 +14.27
755–770 763 2 201.00–220.00 $210.41 $1,605 -2.92
805–835 823 3 220.00–232.00 $226.41 $1,863 +23.49
855–885 870 2 212.00–235.00 $223.70 $1,946 +20.86
935 935 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,889 —
965 965 1 212.50 $212.50 $2,051 +9.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 250.00 $250.00 $550 -11.55
265–285 273 3 220.00–255.00 $234.60 $640 +34.60
315–340 330 3 240.00–262.00 $249.16 $822 +24.16
355–380 368 2 245.00–255.00 $249.83 $919 —
425 425 2 240.00–255.00 $247.50 $1,052 +27.50
450–485 462 6 242.00–265.00 $254.01 $1,174 -0.85
510–540 523 17 236.00–270.00 $248.54 $1,300 +56.54
555–595 572 15 242.00–261.00 $250.30 $1,432 +27.30
615–648 639 5 210.00–225.00 $222.11 $1,419 +12.11
660–680 672 13 212.00–231.00 $224.91 $1,511 +14.91
715 715 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,444 —
830 830 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,660 —
890 890 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,736 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 112.00 $112.00 $510 —
535 535 1 104.00 $104.00 $556 -11.00
560–595 586 13 89.00–117.50 $107.35 $629 -8.25
690 690 3 90.00 $90.00 $621 -28.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160 unweaned 160 1 475.00 $475.00 -25.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 unweaned 265 1 255.00 $255.00 $676 —
260–280 270 2 285.00 $285.00 $770 —
315–330 323 9 250.00–270.00 $259.46 $838 —
358 value added 358 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,020 —
378–396 389 7 260.00–267.00 $260.98 $1,015 +17.90
427–440 432 14 260.00–270.00 $262.93 $1,136 +0.53
455–497 483 27 240.00–257.00 $246.02 $1,188 +5.07
500–545 530 8 230.00–250.00 $235.73 $1,249 -20.31
562–590 575 8 232.00–245.00 $241.09 $1,386 +1.21
605–630 609 11 210.00–230.00 $226.67 $1,380 +7.92
624 value added 624 5 225.00 $225.00 $1,404 —
675 675 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,350 -0.83
700–725 716 8 205.00–214.00 $209.21 $1,498 +19.21
770–780 776 7 202.50–218.00 $213.14 $1,654 +22.50
825 825 3 200.00–211.00 $207.33 $1,710 +17.33
850 850 1 212.00 $212.00 $1,802 +32.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
183 fancy 183 2 380.00 $380.00 $695 —
200–225 213 2 325.00–330.00 $327.35 $697 —
244 fancy 244 1 400.00 $400.00 $976 —
250 fancy 250 1 390.00 $390.00 $975 —
268–290 280 7 340.00–355.00 $349.83 $980 +44.83
300–340 318 9 320.00–340.00 $328.70 $1,045 +31.20
320 value added 320 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,152 —
350 value added 350 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,138 +31.88
358 fancy 358 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,146 —
350–390 371 10 290.00–307.00 $301.17 $1,117 +27.25
405–446 425 15 275.00–285.00 $280.23 $1,191 +2.11
470–481 479 7 270.00–290.00 $272.80 $1,307 +5.80
480 value added 480 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,440 +11.33
513–545 517 10 250.00–270.00 $265.51 $1,373 +0.20
525 value added 525 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,496 +5.10
550–590 567 8 246.00–267.00 $251.76 $1,427 -6.16
601–610 603 9 242.00–256.00 $253.08 $1,526 +10.53
631 fancy 631 5 242.50 $242.50 $1,530 —
670 670 2 239.00 $239.00 $1,601 +13.20
735 735 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,735 +27.25
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250–285 272 3 225.00–230.00 $226.75 $617 +29.21
340 340 2 235.00 $235.00 $799 +29.98
365–395 381 4 225.00–227.00 $226.03 $861 +6.03
420–440 432 11 222.00–247.00 $237.75 $1,027 +6.55
450–485 466 16 220.00–237.00 $230.77 $1,075 —
510–545 523 9 205.00–227.00 $219.46 $1,148 -5.57
558–590 567 7 197.50–221.00 $216.41 $1,227 +0.09
610 610 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,159 -12.50
615–635 624 12 195.00–210.00 $199.97 $1,248 -2.53
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
185 unweaned 185 1 375.00 $375.00 —
200 unweaned 200 1 325.00 $325.00 —
246 246 4 500.00 $500.00 —
297 297 3 525.00 $525.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 2 177.50 $177.50 $1,154 —
725 725 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,088 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–365 360 2 225.00–255.00 $240.21 $865 —
510–520 517 3 240.00–255.00 $250.06 $1,293 —
555–593 580 4 225.00–262.00 $241.91 $1,403 -13.09
695 695 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,216 -24.50
715–730 720 3 193.00–200.00 $197.68 $1,423 +7.75
780–795 788 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,340 —
830–835 833 2 152.00–170.00 $160.97 $1,341 —
855 855 2 170.00–197.50 $183.75 $1,571 —
945 945 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,673 -8.00
973 973 3 168.00 $168.00 $1,635 +19.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–415 406 7 285.00–315.00 $310.62 $1,261 —
455 455 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,433 -10.00
515 515 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,545 +22.50
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 120.00 $120.00 $510 —
690 690 1 108.00 $108.00 $745 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870 870 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,244 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
145 145 1 360.00 $360.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
330 330 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
130–1310 1048 80-85% 33 107.00–116.00 $111.24 $1,166 —
1030–1420 1090 80-85% 7 100.00–109.00 $106.65 $1,162 -1.02
890–1525 1195 80-85% 11 94.00–105.00 $101.64 $1,215 —
905–1610 1199 80-85% 41 106.00–115.00 $111.06 $1,332 —
1415 1415 80-85% 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,698 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
595–895 761 85-90% 6 73.00–82.00 $79.40 $604 —
720–805 763 85-90% 2 60.00–75.00 $67.08 $512 —
765–905 831 85-90% 5 90.00–91.00 $90.40 $751 +20.09
845 845 85-90% 1 79.00 $79.00 $668 +8.69
730–940 859 85-90% 6 96.00–107.00 $102.38 $879 —
910 910 85-90% 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,056 —
920–980 954 85-90% 6 90.00–98.00 $95.02 $906 —
795–1195 960 85-90% 7 98.00–107.00 $103.03 $989 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1560 1400 75-80% 3 109.00–113.00 $111.51 $1,561 —
1480–1675 1585 75-80% 4 101.00–108.00 $104.99 $1,664 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030–2135 1431 12 105.00–130.00 $120.31 $1,722 -3.59
1000–2195 1531 11 114.00–125.00 $121.05 $1,853 —
1580 1580 1 130.00 $130.00 $2,054 —
1300–2235 1706 9 126.00–133.00 $129.55 $2,210 +4.13

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
665–940 795 (<2 yrs)Open 9 163.00–179.00 $168.56 $1,340
830 830 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,432
685–1065 843 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 150.00–173.00 $159.55 $1,345
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
630–930 788 (<2 yrs)Open 8 179.00–200.00 $187.63 $1,479

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
905 905 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,041
930 930 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 108.00 $108.00 $1,004
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 142.00 $142.00 $1,356
875–1160 1014 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 108.00–112.00 $110.25 $1,118
940–1280 1066 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 115.00–129.00 $121.07 $1,291
875–1535 1168 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 108.00–116.00 $111.17 $1,298
1185 1185 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,315
925–1660 1279 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 100.00–113.00 $108.25 $1,385
1330 1330 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,543
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860–865 863 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,725.00–1,800.00 $1,750.00
975 975 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
915–1254 1122 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,750.00–2,025.00 $1,897.73
1293 1293 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,600.00 $1,600.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
838–885 854 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,425.00–1,600.00 $1,483.33
860 860 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00
890–1380 1101 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,200.00–1,570.00 $1,401.15
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
685–810 768 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 900.00–1,100.00 $966.67
790 790 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
730–1095 890 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,000.00–1,375.00 $1,169.29
915–965 940 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 965.00–1,100.00 $1,032.50
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1150 1150 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,150
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
580 580 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 110.00 $110.00 $638
Small 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
735 735 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 725.00 $725.00
Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
560 560 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 480.00 $480.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
975 975 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,925.00 $1,925.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
720 720 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,510.00 $1,510.00 —

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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.