Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 13, 2024

939 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 $318.94/cwt +0.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,523/hd at 477 lb · 39 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $268.68/cwt +16.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,544/hd at 575 lb · 31 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $292.24/cwt +12.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,249/hd at 427 lb · 28 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 939 1,204 933
Feeder cattle 679 898 696
Slaughter cattle 159 189 148
Replacement cattle 101 117 89

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves were steady to 3.00 lower, while heifer calves were 10.00-15.00 lower. Feeder steers sold steady to 1.00-3.00 higher, feeder heifers sold steady. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower, slaughter bulls sold steady. 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
215 unweaned 215 1 350.00 $350.00 $752 ±0.00
260 260 1 350.00 $350.00 $910 -12.34
315–345 328 11 337.00–355.00 $341.08 $1,119 -8.85
330 value added 330 2 350.00–360.00 $355.00 $1,172 -49.68
340 unweaned 340 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,105 -4.47
350–395 363 7 325.00–345.00 $336.10 $1,220 -0.87
378–385 fancy 380 3 350.00–367.50 $361.60 $1,374 -2.64
385 value added 385 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,444 +28.00
413–415 value added 414 3 330.00–350.00 $343.31 $1,421 +3.55
410–445 423 22 305.00–325.00 $314.61 $1,331 -9.25
450–490 value added 471 7 325.00–335.00 $330.69 $1,558 +5.69
455–495 478 29 310.00–325.00 $315.30 $1,507 +1.66
485–490 fancy 487 3 325.00–330.00 $326.68 $1,591 +5.10
500–525 value added 512 5 315.00–330.00 $323.02 $1,654 +4.33
512–548 fancy 524 13 310.00–315.00 $311.67 $1,633 -0.41
523–545 533 4 300.00–305.00 $303.73 $1,619 +6.80
555–563 value added 560 6 305.00–310.00 $308.35 $1,727 —
563–565 fancy 564 3 305.00–310.00 $308.33 $1,739 -6.67
550–595 576 10 285.00–300.00 $293.01 $1,688 +3.14
605–625 value added 615 8 285.00–290.00 $287.49 $1,768 +4.55
605–635 620 10 262.00–275.00 $267.90 $1,661 +1.87
655 value added 655 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,867 +17.00
670 670 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,708 -14.18
702–715 value added 705 4 250.00–260.00 $257.47 $1,815 —
707 fancy 707 5 239.50 $239.50 $1,693 —
730 730 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,716 —
784 784 5 235.00 $235.00 $1,842 -0.13
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 320.00 $320.00 $880 +10.00
310–345 330 3 295.00–315.00 $303.66 $1,002 +10.70
353 fancy 353 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,130 —
379–395 381 7 285.00–305.00 $290.07 $1,105 -9.04
410–434 423 8 285.00–300.00 $291.69 $1,234 -2.65
480 480 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,416 +6.43
505–545 520 7 270.00–285.00 $281.67 $1,465 -4.37
570–595 588 6 270.00–285.00 $279.98 $1,646 +9.46
600–635 617 17 240.00–261.00 $246.59 $1,521 +4.90
650–695 678 12 240.00–255.00 $244.62 $1,659 +1.67
740–745 744 5 222.00–227.00 $222.99 $1,659 -4.27
765 765 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,626 +2.09
807–830 812 8 220.00–225.00 $224.24 $1,821 -2.17
865–895 880 2 217.50–224.00 $220.69 $1,942 -3.01
925 925 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,850 -2.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 265 1 285.00 $285.00 $755 +50.40
405–430 420 3 245.00–275.00 $265.36 $1,115 +17.86
455–490 468 3 255.00–270.00 $263.40 $1,233 +9.39
500–520 510 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,122 -28.54
575–595 588 3 245.00–255.00 $250.00 $1,470 -0.30
660 660 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,452 -4.91
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 1 114.00 $114.00 $593 +10.00
625 625 1 114.00 $114.00 $712 —
675 675 1 114.00 $114.00 $770 +24.00
710–735 727 3 110.00–112.00 $110.65 $804 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
402–403 402 5 510.00–650.00 $593.92 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
195 unweaned 195 1 540.00 $540.00 +65.00
205–210 unweaned 208 2 500.00–550.00 $524.70 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 unweaned 275 2 300.00 $300.00 $825 —
300 unweaned 300 1 320.00 $320.00 $960 —
310–330 320 2 300.00–315.00 $307.27 $983 -21.43
339 value added 339 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,051 -50.00
355–395 372 9 285.00–305.00 $300.39 $1,117 -0.78
370–373 value added 372 3 305.00–315.00 $311.68 $1,159 -13.32
385 fancy 385 2 315.00 $315.00 $1,213 -5.00
400–445 427 15 275.00–285.00 $278.89 $1,191 -1.34
415–430 value added 428 13 305.00–320.00 $307.65 $1,317 —
450–475 467 20 269.00–290.00 $276.24 $1,290 +3.44
515 value added 515 2 272.50 $272.50 $1,403 -12.50
500–540 519 12 255.00–270.00 $261.79 $1,359 -3.72
550–598 567 10 245.00–265.00 $255.76 $1,450 +4.00
570–580 value added 574 10 270.00–285.00 $278.94 $1,601 —
570–592 fancy 582 11 270.00–272.00 $271.11 $1,578 —
600–610 607 7 245.00–260.00 $255.74 $1,552 +2.66
630 value added 630 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,764 —
648 fancy 648 4 260.00 $260.00 $1,685 +17.50
698 698 2 234.00 $234.00 $1,633 -5.00
730 730 1 231.00 $231.00 $1,686 -5.00
815 815 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,769 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 210 1 305.00 $305.00 $640 —
260–295 272 3 270.00 $270.00 $734 -15.00
330–345 340 10 270.00–285.00 $278.47 $947 +19.01
355–390 373 4 270.00–285.00 $275.08 $1,026 +14.10
400–448 425 10 250.00–267.00 $258.08 $1,097 -4.85
450–495 476 14 250.00–265.00 $257.53 $1,226 +11.51
510–548 543 14 232.00–247.00 $245.18 $1,331 +9.45
565–595 579 4 235.00–242.00 $237.80 $1,377 -3.29
644 644 8 227.00 $227.00 $1,462 +0.33
658–675 665 5 200.00–222.00 $210.44 $1,399 +10.44
705–708 708 10 205.00–207.50 $205.25 $1,453 -3.96
825 825 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,732 +2.67
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235–240 238 2 250.00–270.00 $260.11 $619 —
255–285 273 3 235.00–250.00 $244.88 $669 +18.13
365–380 373 2 223.00–242.00 $232.69 $868 +6.66
440 440 1 220.00 $220.00 $968 -17.75
460–470 465 3 200.00–225.00 $215.07 $1,000 -15.70
520–535 530 3 205.00–215.00 $209.95 $1,113 -9.51
640 640 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,280 +0.03
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
135–145 unweaned 140 2 475.00 $475.00 —
150–185 unweaned 168 2 475.00–550.00 $516.42 +141.42
215–230 unweaned 223 2 475.00 $475.00 +150.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
380 380 1 450.00 $450.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,126 +44.79
480 480 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,128 —
530 530 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,246 -15.06
550–590 576 5 225.00–260.00 $249.05 $1,435 +7.14
630 630 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,260 —
670–695 683 2 225.00–235.00 $230.09 $1,572 +55.09
760 760 2 202.00–224.00 $213.00 $1,619 +43.00
870 870 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,218 -43.75
950 950 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,472 -13.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 1 360.00 $360.00 $918 —
445 445 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,402 —
573 573 2 272.50 $272.50 $1,561 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
665 665 1 125.00 $125.00 $831 +17.00
780 780 1 120.00 $120.00 $936 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
135 unweaned 135 1 525.00 $525.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
355 355 1 550.00 $550.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620–740 680 85-90% 2 63.00–67.00 $65.18 $443 —
735–910 818 85-90% 3 75.00–77.00 $75.93 $621 -14.47
720–1115 858 85-90% 13 80.00–90.00 $86.65 $743 -15.73
745–1035 893 85-90% 17 80.00–90.00 $85.59 $764 -16.79
800–1205 939 85-90% 18 90.00–103.00 $95.45 $896 -20.55
803–1195 983 85-90% 23 92.00–100.00 $95.86 $942 -7.17
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1245 1132 80-85% 5 107.00–114.00 $110.35 $1,249 —
1008–1655 1176 80-85% 27 96.00–105.00 $101.28 $1,191 -0.36
1235 1235 80-85% 2 89.00–90.00 $89.50 $1,105 —
1033–1565 1240 80-85% 33 106.00–113.00 $108.69 $1,348 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1610–1660 1627 75-80% 3 98.50–106.00 $101.48 $1,651 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1455 1205 5 112.50–125.00 $116.82 $1,408 —
1035–1760 1380 8 110.00–125.00 $118.62 $1,637 —
1225–1970 1629 10 127.00–134.00 $129.45 $2,109 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
106 106 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 130.00 $130.00 $138
670–970 805 (<2 yrs)Open 15 160.00–187.00 $169.40 $1,364
558–1065 808 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 20 135.00–158.00 $148.60 $1,201
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
615–940 692 (<2 yrs)Open 13 180.00–202.00 $189.81 $1,313
700–885 793 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 185.00–187.50 $186.25 $1,477

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735–1115 948 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 105.00–139.00 $127.60 $1,210
870–1045 958 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 100.00–125.00 $112.50 $1,078
1000–1080 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 100.00–120.00 $110.00 $1,144
850–1455 1095 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 104.00–140.00 $114.67 $1,256
930–1500 1183 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 105.00–150.00 $131.33 $1,554
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865–905 882 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,700.00–2,075.00 $1,908.33
825–975 930 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,850.00–2,000.00 $1,933.33
915–1240 1173 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 1,750.00–2,150.00 $2,037.50
1030–1415 1197 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00–1,925.00 $1,791.67
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
970–1080 1029 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,350.00–1,550.00 $1,400.00
875–1375 1073 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,350.00–1,550.00 $1,466.67
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
655 655 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 650.00 $650.00
680–810 745 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 675.00–805.00 $740.00
730–835 795 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 920.00–1,250.00 $1,098.33

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1350–1376 1372 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 7 1,975.00–2,000.00 $1,978.57 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1105 1105 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —

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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.