Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, February 20, 2026

473 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $437.50/cwt +42.50 vs last sale · ≈ $2,144/hd at 490 lb · 34 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $406.39/cwt +1.50 vs last sale · ≈ $2,357/hd at 580 lb · 25 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $356.87/cwt -17.11 vs last sale · ≈ $2,068/hd at 580 lb · 15 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 473 452 755
Feeder cattle 356 317 564
Slaughter cattle 75 80 112
Replacement cattle 42 55 79

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves sold 10.00-15.00 higher, while heifer calves 5.00-10.00 lower. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Trade moderate 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
263 263 2 650.00 $650.00 $1,710 +33.30
305–330 316 5 620.00–625.00 $622.01 $1,966 +59.23
320–345 unweaned 327 5 535.00–565.00 $553.07 $1,809 —
360 unweaned 360 1 505.00 $505.00 $1,818 +8.24
378 value added 378 3 580.00 $580.00 $2,192 —
380 380 2 525.00–530.00 $527.50 $2,004 -9.02
405–420 413 2 455.00–485.00 $469.73 $1,940 -11.82
425 value added 425 1 510.00 $510.00 $2,168 —
440–445 fancy 443 2 525.00–530.00 $527.51 $2,337 —
455–498 470 6 452.00–470.00 $461.26 $2,168 -3.26
508–530 514 6 422.00–445.00 $436.04 $2,241 -2.41
565–592 580 25 404.00–420.00 $406.39 $2,357 +1.50
635 635 4 370.00–387.00 $382.75 $2,430 -6.83
660–685 675 3 370.00–380.00 $376.62 $2,542 +11.62
715 715 2 360.00 $360.00 $2,574 +3.00
770 value added 770 3 384.00 $384.00 $2,957 —
840 840 1 347.00 $347.00 $2,915 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260 260 1 535.00 $535.00 $1,391 +22.50
325–335 330 2 480.00–515.00 $497.77 $1,643 +72.77
355 355 1 455.00 $455.00 $1,615 +5.00
420 420 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,848 +8.33
490 value added 490 34 437.50 $437.50 $2,144 —
510–545 535 4 397.50–405.00 $399.65 $2,138 -19.06
585 585 1 393.00 $393.00 $2,299 —
655–688 679 4 345.00–358.00 $352.85 $2,396 —
760–795 785 6 306.00–330.00 $314.81 $2,471 —
1140 1140 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,280 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420–440 430 2 350.00–355.00 $352.44 $1,515 +2.44
450–480 465 2 355.00–360.00 $357.58 $1,663 +32.58
505–525 515 2 345.00–370.00 $357.74 $1,842 -2.26
630 630 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,048 —
650 650 1 325.00 $325.00 $2,112 +15.00
713 713 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,961 -5.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,118 —
550–570 563 3 185.00–207.00 $192.16 $1,082 —
640 640 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,440 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
190 unweaned 190 1 875.00 $875.00 -225.00
210–240 unweaned 225 2 1,150.00–1,225.00 $1,185.00 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
390 390 2 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 fancy 250 1 600.00 $600.00 $1,500 —
280–290 282 5 565.00–585.00 $580.89 $1,638 —
310 unweaned 310 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,674 —
310–325 318 2 545.00–550.00 $547.44 $1,741 -40.75
385 385 1 505.00 $505.00 $1,944 +10.08
405 fancy 405 4 530.00 $530.00 $2,146 +15.00
423 423 6 475.00 $475.00 $2,009 -9.48
481–490 483 5 465.00–475.00 $472.97 $2,284 -3.60
528 528 8 417.50 $417.50 $2,204 +33.53
560 value added 560 1 495.00 $495.00 $2,772 —
581 581 14 347.00 $347.00 $2,016 -26.98
615 615 2 352.00 $352.00 $2,165 -9.29
745 745 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,458 +8.93
750 750 3 306.00 $306.00 $2,295 -7.93
834–838 836 15 306.00–316.00 $310.65 $2,597 +0.65
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263 263 2 460.00 $460.00 $1,210 —
310–340 unweaned 325 2 460.00–465.00 $462.38 $1,503 —
330–340 335 2 475.00–500.00 $487.31 $1,632 -7.69
370 unweaned 370 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,536 —
365–390 371 9 425.00–450.00 $444.15 $1,648 -3.47
410–440 416 6 410.00–435.00 $415.86 $1,730 +15.74
465–488 478 6 400.00–420.00 $406.93 $1,945 +6.93
520–535 529 4 355.00–375.00 $364.40 $1,928 —
550–595 564 5 347.00–350.00 $347.63 $1,961 -11.38
615–640 632 3 306.00–315.00 $308.92 $1,952 —
655 655 2 330.00 $330.00 $2,162 +15.00
708 708 2 292.00 $292.00 $2,067 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,165 —
315 315 3 395.00–415.00 $403.33 $1,270 +10.81
363–383 373 5 370.00–395.00 $377.89 $1,410 +2.89
680 680 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,006 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
230 230 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —
300 300 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
450 450 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00 +250.00
500 500 1 1,060.00 $1,060.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
155 unweaned 155 1 950.00 $950.00 +125.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730 730 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,716 —
790 790 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,856 —
890 890 1 230.00 $230.00 $2,047 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940 940 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,350 —
975–985 980 2 185.00–245.00 $214.85 $2,106 -0.15
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
195 unweaned 195 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795 795 80-85% 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,304 —
1090–1155 1123 80-85% 3 145.00–150.00 $147.04 $1,651 -7.46
1098–1280 1200 80-85% 12 155.50–170.00 $159.27 $1,911 —
890–1612 1277 80-85% 9 152.00–162.00 $157.70 $2,014 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650–690 670 85-90% 2 105.00 $105.00 $704 —
655–710 683 85-90% 2 85.00–100.00 $92.20 $630 —
615–803 756 85-90% 4 91.00–106.00 $94.05 $711 —
750–930 840 85-90% 2 136.00–142.00 $138.68 $1,165 +9.73
870–975 923 85-90% 2 125.00–127.00 $125.94 $1,162 —
885–1145 966 85-90% 5 136.00–141.00 $139.05 $1,343 -0.37
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1565 1565 75-80% 1 155.00 $155.00 $2,426 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270 1270 1 170.00 $170.00 $2,159 —
1040–1555 1286 9 147.00–167.00 $158.80 $2,042 —
1235–1945 1503 6 170.00–182.00 $176.35 $2,651 —
1795–2030 1926 4 184.00–188.00 $185.94 $3,581 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
595–1010 816 (<2 yrs)Open 11 285.00–300.00 $293.09 $2,392
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735 735 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,838
665–815 752 (<2 yrs)Open 3 285.00 $285.00 $2,143
1395 1395 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 175.00 $175.00 $2,441
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
680 680 (<2 yrs)Open 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,564
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1025 1025 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
795 795 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00
920 920 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
913–1200 1005 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 2,500.00–2,600.00 $2,520.00
1040 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1125–1295 1199 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,100.00–2,300.00 $2,212.50
1495 1495 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
810 810 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
950 950 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
870–1140 1005 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,900.00–3,200.00 $3,050.00
875–1180 1028 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,100.00–3,350.00 $3,225.00
1095 1095 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,450.00 $3,450.00
1110 1110 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00
1295 1295 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800 800 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00
785–825 805 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,800.00–1,850.00 $1,825.00
810 810 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765–955 860 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,800.00–3,200.00 $3,000.00
910 910 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,250.00 $3,250.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
790 790 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
615 615 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 —
760–860 810 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,500.00–1,650.00 $1,575.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
865 865 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,800.00 $3,800.00 —

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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.