Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, December 20, 2024

768 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $318.63/cwt +26.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,335/hd at 419 lb · 39 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $335.02/cwt +30.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,230/hd at 367 lb · 37 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $341.10/cwt +22.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,615/hd at 473 lb · 30 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 768 939 933
Feeder cattle 585 679 696
Slaughter cattle 110 159 148
Replacement cattle 73 101 89

Market comments — USDA reporter

* Special note no sale December 27th 2024 or January 3rd 2025 First sale of new year is January 10th 2025* Compared to last week: Steer calves sold 5.00-10.00 lower while heifer calves sold steady to 5.00 higher. Feeder steers sold steady while feeder heifers sold 8.00-12.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher and slaughter bulls sold 4.00-6.00 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
225 unweaned 225 1 340.00 $340.00 $765 -10.00
225 fancy 225 1 410.00 $410.00 $922 —
230 value added 230 1 410.00 $410.00 $943 —
260–270 unweaned 265 2 355.00–360.00 $357.45 $947 —
275 fancy 275 1 410.00 $410.00 $1,128 —
270–290 value added 279 5 380.00–390.00 $384.88 $1,074 —
305–325 fancy 319 11 400.00–415.00 $408.65 $1,304 —
305–347 value added 333 13 360.00–380.00 $371.46 $1,237 +16.46
325–345 335 2 330.00–340.00 $335.15 $1,123 -5.93
350–360 fancy 353 4 385.00–390.00 $388.72 $1,372 +27.12
350–385 357 9 350.00–360.00 $356.55 $1,273 +20.45
353–390 value added 367 5 395.00–415.00 $402.69 $1,478 +27.69
405–440 418 7 315.00–335.00 $319.21 $1,334 +4.60
400–440 fancy 419 19 340.00–352.00 $348.39 $1,460 —
430 value added 430 2 375.00 $375.00 $1,612 +31.69
455–460 457 10 325.00–330.00 $327.00 $1,494 +11.70
460–489 value added 478 14 345.00–365.00 $353.77 $1,691 +23.08
489–495 fancy 490 6 332.00–350.00 $335.03 $1,642 +8.35
500 value added 500 2 335.00–355.00 $345.00 $1,725 +21.98
505–523 fancy 511 13 325.00–345.00 $332.47 $1,699 +20.80
500–539 533 13 300.00–320.00 $314.56 $1,677 +10.83
550 550 1 317.00 $317.00 $1,744 +23.99
550–560 fancy 555 2 322.00–332.00 $327.05 $1,815 +18.72
551–575 555 10 295.00–300.00 $298.97 $1,659 +5.96
622–630 value added 624 4 285.00–300.00 $288.79 $1,802 +1.30
635–645 642 3 271.00–277.00 $275.02 $1,766 +7.12
650 fancy 650 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,918 —
650–665 value added 658 2 272.50–277.00 $274.78 $1,808 -10.22
663–680 667 8 250.00–261.00 $258.20 $1,722 +3.20
770 770 1 232.00 $232.00 $1,786 -3.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275–285 282 3 300.00–325.00 $316.86 $894 -3.14
340 340 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,054 +6.34
390 390 2 335.00–345.00 $340.00 $1,326 +49.93
400 400 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,180 +3.31
460–495 480 3 285.00–300.00 $293.23 $1,408 -1.77
520–540 530 2 265.00–285.00 $274.81 $1,456 -6.86
575–590 581 8 270.00–285.00 $279.67 $1,625 -0.31
628 628 1 241.00 $241.00 $1,513 -5.59
725 725 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,595 -2.99
805 805 1 233.00 $233.00 $1,876 +8.76
1035 1035 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,915 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 1 240.00 $240.00 $672 -45.00
315 315 1 230.00 $230.00 $724 —
430–448 442 7 245.00–250.00 $248.61 $1,099 -16.75
455–475 465 2 240.00–250.00 $245.11 $1,140 -18.29
530 530 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,272 +20.00
560–565 564 10 215.00–230.00 $217.98 $1,229 -32.02
645 645 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,516 —
750 750 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,710 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600–618 614 5 105.00–109.00 $108.22 $664 -5.78
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
325 325 1 625.00 $625.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210 fancy 210 1 375.00 $375.00 $788 —
220 value added 220 1 370.00 $370.00 $814 —
260–275 fancy 265 3 350.00–372.50 $362.26 $960 —
260–280 278 12 310.00–325.00 $323.83 $900 —
285 thin fleshed 285 2 355.00 $355.00 $1,012 —
295 value added 295 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,003 —
300–345 320 5 300.00–320.00 $309.91 $992 +2.64
300–330 fancy 323 5 340.00–360.00 $352.91 $1,140 —
305–340 value added 327 6 328.00–340.00 $333.21 $1,090 +23.21
355–380 value added 366 14 360.00–365.00 $362.77 $1,328 +51.09
354–379 367 21 305.00–325.00 $317.00 $1,163 +16.61
378 fancy 378 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,247 +15.00
400–440 value added 408 22 323.00–340.00 $327.12 $1,335 +19.47
415–425 fancy 422 5 310.00–330.00 $323.02 $1,363 —
415–448 438 12 297.00–310.00 $301.24 $1,319 +22.35
463 fancy 463 4 295.00 $295.00 $1,366 —
465 value added 465 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,488 —
468–483 475 20 270.00–279.00 $277.06 $1,316 +0.82
510–525 value added 522 22 277.00–287.50 $283.25 $1,479 +10.75
574 value added 574 5 292.50 $292.50 $1,679 +13.56
570–583 579 9 272.50–275.00 $274.45 $1,589 +18.69
591 fancy 591 5 275.00 $275.00 $1,625 +3.89
600–620 610 2 260.00–265.00 $262.46 $1,601 +6.72
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 270.00 $270.00 $796 ±0.00
380 380 2 270.00–275.00 $272.50 $1,036 -2.58
443 443 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,152 +1.92
485–495 490 2 255.00–267.50 $261.31 $1,280 +3.78
510–530 520 2 263.00–272.50 $267.66 $1,392 +22.48
560–568 565 3 225.00–237.00 $228.96 $1,294 -8.84
680–685 683 2 200.00–220.00 $210.04 $1,435 -0.40
738 738 3 219.00 $219.00 $1,616 +13.75
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
516 516 8 163.00 $163.00 $841 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–385 363 3 245.00–255.00 $250.16 $908 +17.47
445 445 1 220.00 $220.00 $979 ±0.00
465 465 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,186 +39.93
520 520 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,040 -9.95
595 595 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,190 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
345 345 2 685.00 $685.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 135.00 $135.00 $675 —
600 600 1 102.00 $102.00 $612 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
195 unweaned 195 1 500.00 $500.00 -16.42
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
425 425 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
450–455 453 2 270.00–290.00 $280.06 $1,269 +45.06
515 515 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,416 +40.00
555–590 573 2 230.00–265.00 $246.97 $1,415 -2.08
748 748 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,720 —
765–770 768 2 190.00–220.00 $204.95 $1,574 -8.05
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655–685 677 4 101.00–107.00 $105.48 $714 -19.52
840 840 1 108.00 $108.00 $907 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,116 —
460 460 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,426 —
650 650 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,788 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
700 700 1 140.00 $140.00 $980 —
770 770 1 139.00 $139.00 $1,070 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1170 988 80-85% 5 102.00–111.00 $105.71 $1,044 —
850–1340 1103 80-85% 18 100.00–110.00 $105.55 $1,164 -4.80
825–1340 1115 80-85% 3 110.00–119.00 $112.62 $1,256 +2.27
915–1490 1194 80-85% 21 106.00–116.00 $110.65 $1,321 +9.37
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675–835 755 85-90% 2 82.00–90.00 $86.42 $652 —
755–770 763 85-90% 2 78.00–80.00 $79.01 $603 —
615–1025 804 85-90% 6 80.00–90.00 $87.47 $703 +11.54
690–900 813 85-90% 6 81.00–101.00 $85.99 $699 +10.06
665–1045 882 85-90% 13 93.00–100.00 $96.65 $852 +11.06
805–1005 899 85-90% 4 95.00–101.00 $97.92 $880 +12.33

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285–1340 1313 2 111.00–126.00 $118.66 $1,558 —
1000–2150 1390 7 111.00–129.00 $121.74 $1,692 +3.12
1460–1930 1721 7 130.00–140.00 $134.12 $2,308 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
550–800 707 (<2 yrs)Open 22 161.00–182.00 $172.55 $1,220
590–932 813 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 140.00–156.00 $147.95 $1,203
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
665 665 (<2 yrs)Open 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,264

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
770–1110 889 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,500.00–1,800.00 $1,695.00
800–1255 941 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,400.00–1,700.00 $1,518.75
785–1210 959 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,550.00–1,850.00 $1,690.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
905–1045 963 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,850.00–2,100.00 $1,945.83
895–1140 1018 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,800.00–2,000.00 $1,900.00
1223 fancy 1223 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1300 1300 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1320 fancy 1320 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
700 700 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 140.00 $140.00 $980
975 975 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,043
1030 1030 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,205
995–1135 1065 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 112.00–117.00 $114.50 $1,219
1195 1195 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,374
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
675–845 760 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,000.00–1,300.00 $1,200.00
875 875 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835 835 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 117.00 $117.00 $977
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
695 695 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
530 530 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 575.00 $575.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
795–880 838 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,775.00–1,875.00 $1,825.00 —
1215–1390 1303 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,250.00–2,300.00 $2,275.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
760 760 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —

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Dairy Steers

Medium 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331 331 9 90.00 $90.00 $298 —

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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.