Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, March 20, 2026

505 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 $458.34/cwt +11.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,939/hd at 423 lb · 19 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers $506.84/cwt +50.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,903/hd at 375 lb · 18 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $432.91/cwt +17.16 vs last sale · ≈ $2,072/hd at 479 lb · 17 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 505 523 468
Feeder cattle 340 363 311
Slaughter cattle 75 98 77
Replacement cattle 90 62 80

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: With limited comparisons in all classes. Steer and heifer calves sold steady to 5.00 higher. Feeder steers sold steady, with no good comparisons to feeder heifers. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady. Trade and demand moderate.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283 283 2 505.00 $505.00 $1,429 -55.00
300 300 11 525.00 $525.00 $1,575 —
350–390 381 6 510.00–525.00 $518.35 $1,975 +13.92
420–430 425 2 425.00–465.00 $445.24 $1,892 +27.80
465–495 475 4 425.00–450.00 $441.04 $2,095 +7.84
460–487 value added 480 4 460.00–465.00 $463.80 $2,226 —
515 value added 515 1 435.00 $435.00 $2,240 +9.00
535 535 1 390.00 $390.00 $2,086 -4.73
555–588 581 5 390.00–405.00 $400.12 $2,325 -12.56
748 748 2 332.00 $332.00 $2,483 —
760–780 770 2 330.00–337.00 $333.45 $2,568 —
880–890 885 2 255.00–275.00 $265.06 $2,346 -4.86
970 970 1 292.00 $292.00 $2,832 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 1 730.00 $730.00 $1,387 —
220 220 1 720.00 $720.00 $1,584 +70.00
255–270 263 2 670.00–675.00 $672.57 $1,769 +62.57
255–280 unweaned 268 2 625.00–630.00 $627.38 $1,681 —
315–335 unweaned 322 3 560.00 $560.00 $1,803 +17.61
330–345 338 2 585.00–590.00 $587.44 $1,986 +12.39
345 fancy 345 1 625.00 $625.00 $2,156 —
350–378 fancy 369 4 580.00–585.00 $583.75 $2,154 —
370 value added 370 1 650.00 $650.00 $2,405 —
350–395 384 4 545.00–575.00 $555.70 $2,134 +12.25
393 unweaned 393 3 502.00 $502.00 $1,973 —
405–415 410 2 495.00–510.00 $502.41 $2,060 +21.63
418 value added 418 3 585.00 $585.00 $2,445 +61.75
460–478 468 5 480.00–500.00 $485.97 $2,274 -9.59
505–515 510 2 455.00–465.00 $459.95 $2,346 +13.16
605–610 607 3 410.00–440.00 $423.30 $2,569 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272–297 285 6 435.00–455.00 $444.56 $1,267 -5.44
325 unweaned 325 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,138 —
340 340 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,445 +10.00
350 350 1 437.00 $437.00 $1,530 +44.62
370 unweaned 370 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,018 —
450 450 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,688 +25.00
510 510 1 355.00 $355.00 $1,810 -10.00
575–595 585 2 330.00–355.00 $342.29 $2,002 -7.71
625–630 628 2 330.00–345.00 $337.53 $2,120 —
662–683 670 5 330.00–349.00 $341.26 $2,286 -3.98
735 735 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,168 -11.00
750–790 770 2 312.50–315.00 $313.78 $2,416 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
648 648 2 205.00 $205.00 $1,328 —
670 670 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,574 —
812 812 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,989 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,395 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 570.00 $570.00 $1,396 —
255 unweaned 255 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,377 —
265–284 value added 281 6 590.00–610.00 $593.15 $1,667 —
288 288 3 555.00 $555.00 $1,598 +18.00
330 fancy 330 3 547.00 $547.00 $1,805 —
350–395 value added 359 7 520.00–545.00 $538.28 $1,932 —
370–395 385 9 465.00–495.00 $481.68 $1,854 +25.71
390 fancy 390 2 510.00 $510.00 $1,989 —
403–445 420 9 445.00–465.00 $450.40 $1,892 +4.03
420 fancy 420 6 460.00 $460.00 $1,932 —
430–445 value added 434 4 470.00–475.00 $473.72 $2,056 —
450 fancy 450 3 465.00 $465.00 $2,092 —
460–498 479 10 420.00–445.00 $434.44 $2,081 +7.44
499 499 4 405.00 $405.00 $2,021 -7.00
507–515 509 4 410.00–435.00 $428.68 $2,182 —
510 value added 510 3 450.00 $450.00 $2,295 —
585–595 588 3 395.00–415.00 $403.29 $2,371 +38.29
605–625 615 2 350.00–375.00 $362.70 $2,231 —
655 655 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,358 —
753 753 4 330.00 $330.00 $2,485 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–445 428 4 405.00–440.00 $423.60 $1,813 +5.92
460–493 484 7 380.00–410.00 $392.02 $1,897 -32.98
505 505 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,970 +10.87
635–645 637 9 320.00–330.00 $321.12 $2,046 -8.88
685 685 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,124 ±0.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,521 +32.35
425 425 1 325.00 $325.00 $1,381 -57.43
490 490 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,690 -33.54
500 500 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,750 +30.00
550 550 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,870 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,282 —
647 647 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,682 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,618 —
480 480 1 420.00 $420.00 $2,016 —
505 505 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,868 -54.65
555 555 1 310.00 $310.00 $1,720 -35.00
600–635 618 2 320.00–345.00 $332.85 $2,057 -17.92
670–695 683 2 310.00–327.50 $318.59 $2,176 -16.26
705–718 713 4 265.00–330.00 $306.26 $2,184 -3.74
765–775 770 2 245.00–275.00 $260.10 $2,003 -58.39
800–840 820 2 225.00–235.00 $230.12 $1,887 —
870 870 1 267.00 $267.00 $2,323 —
915 915 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,196 -5.00
1045 1045 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,194 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
301 fancy 301 4 600.00 $600.00 $1,806 —
443 443 2 450.00 $450.00 $1,994 —
490 490 1 445.00 $445.00 $2,180 -25.00
505 505 1 440.00 $440.00 $2,222 —
590 590 1 405.00 $405.00 $2,390 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,184 —
485 485 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,455 —
685 685 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,678 —
775 775 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,976 —
805 805 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,932 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795 795 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,630 —
855 855 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,924 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
813–940 855 80-85% 3 150.00–156.00 $152.20 $1,301 —
920–1280 1045 80-85% 12 160.00–170.00 $165.02 $1,724 +6.88
985–1350 1079 80-85% 6 145.00–155.00 $150.36 $1,622 —
1045–1310 1135 80-85% 13 160.00–170.00 $164.75 $1,870 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
700 700 85-90% 1 95.00 $95.00 $665 —
715–865 790 85-90% 2 135.00–140.00 $137.74 $1,088 —
945–970 958 85-90% 2 141.00–148.00 $144.45 $1,384 +12.49
710–1220 1021 85-90% 4 145.00–148.00 $145.90 $1,490 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1750–1805 1778 75-80% 2 145.50–152.50 $148.95 $2,648 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,820 —
1090–2285 1366 6 145.00–177.00 $168.11 $2,296 -1.85
1425–2125 1710 3 187.00–192.00 $188.70 $3,227 —
1620–2260 2012 5 195.00–201.00 $198.01 $3,984 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
675–1030 768 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 180.00–195.00 $191.25 $1,469
620–975 781 (<2 yrs)Open 16 245.00–275.00 $259.38 $2,026
795 795 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 185.00 $185.00 $1,471
720–1103 899 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 210.00–225.00 $221.25 $1,989
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
660–845 753 (<2 yrs)Open 2 280.00–290.00 $285.00 $2,146

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
775–925 844 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,500.00–3,250.00 $2,875.00
845–990 918 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00
840–1005 978 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 2,500.00–3,025.00 $2,918.75
1030 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
905–1120 1036 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,750.00–3,000.00 $2,887.50
900–1445 1217 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,750.00–3,100.00 $2,966.67
1285 1285 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1080–1570 1325 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,100.00 $3,100.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
610–750 688 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,450.00–1,800.00 $1,616.67
710 710 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
725 725 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
760 760 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
785 785 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
720–960 840 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,600.00–1,950.00 $1,783.33
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
555 555 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,435.00 $1,435.00
515–635 575 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,300.00–1,400.00 $1,350.00
595 595 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
613 613 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,000.00 $1,000.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
940 940 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,786
925–1175 1078 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 185.00–196.00 $191.00 $2,059
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1430–1465 1448 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,350.00–3,400.00 $3,375.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735 735 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,286

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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 2,600.00 $2,600.00 —
1075–1145 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 3,000.00–3,200.00 $3,100.00 -200.00
1010–1305 1135 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,950.00–3,050.00 $3,000.00 -300.00
1135 1135 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,700.00 $3,700.00 +400.00
1230–1335 1283 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 3,100.00–3,250.00 $3,175.00 —
1480 1480 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
785 785 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1370 1370 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.