Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, April 17, 2026

594 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $397.48/cwt +32.48 vs last sale · ≈ $2,472/hd at 622 lb · 13 head
heavy 2-weight M&L 1 steers $617.97/cwt -3.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,709/hd at 276 lb · 12 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $532.26/cwt -7.74 vs last sale · ≈ $2,539/hd at 477 lb · 10 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 594 441 644
Feeder cattle 355 282 369
Slaughter cattle 162 121 154
Replacement cattle 77 38 121

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves sold 3.00-5.00 higher, while there was no comparisons with heifer calves. Feeder steers and heifers sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 3.00-5.00 lower. 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
220 unweaned 220 1 650.00 $650.00 $1,430 +25.00
220 220 1 705.00 $705.00 $1,551 —
270–280 unweaned 275 3 580.00–610.00 $594.82 $1,636 -14.04
271–295 277 9 620.00–635.00 $625.68 $1,733 -26.34
300–313 308 6 595.00–600.00 $598.31 $1,843 —
345 fancy 345 1 630.00 $630.00 $2,174 —
370–375 373 3 600.00–625.00 $608.26 $2,269 +4.82
403–438 421 6 550.00–580.00 $563.51 $2,372 +18.51
435 unweaned 435 1 530.00 $530.00 $2,306 —
450–498 477 10 520.00–550.00 $532.26 $2,539 -7.74
505 fancy 505 1 500.00 $500.00 $2,525 —
500–525 506 4 480.00 $480.00 $2,429 +37.44
550–563 fancy 559 3 470.00–475.00 $471.64 $2,636 —
555–588 575 6 415.00–440.00 $425.65 $2,447 -0.03
600–605 603 2 435.00–460.00 $447.45 $2,698 +17.45
600–610 605 2 425.00 $425.00 $2,571 -5.00
655–685 670 2 390.00–415.00 $402.22 $2,695 +12.22
715 715 1 375.00 $375.00 $2,681 +15.00
778–795 784 3 325.00–350.00 $341.55 $2,678 —
815 815 1 355.00 $355.00 $2,893 —
917 917 3 315.00 $315.00 $2,889 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 245 1 590.00 $590.00 $1,446 —
255–268 264 3 550.00–565.00 $560.16 $1,479 —
290 unweaned 290 1 530.00 $530.00 $1,537 —
330 unweaned 330 1 465.00 $465.00 $1,534 -85.00
355–390 369 9 525.00–555.00 $539.60 $1,991 +9.56
390 unweaned 390 1 505.00 $505.00 $1,970 —
405–440 422 3 485.00–510.00 $498.10 $2,102 -10.50
425 value added 425 2 535.00 $535.00 $2,274 —
450–490 470 6 495.00–510.00 $501.78 $2,358 +51.78
550 550 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,980 —
600–645 622 13 385.00–415.00 $397.48 $2,472 +32.48
680–690 688 4 360.00–380.00 $369.96 $2,545 -25.04
718–745 727 3 315.00–340.00 $331.46 $2,410 -3.54
905 905 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,624 —
1060 1060 1 265.00 $265.00 $2,809 +18.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,378 —
350–385 368 2 440.00–490.00 $466.19 $1,716 -3.81
395 unweaned 395 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,639 —
400 400 1 445.00 $445.00 $1,780 +45.00
460–495 478 2 400.00–435.00 $416.86 $1,993 +5.08
505–520 514 4 385.00–415.00 $396.13 $2,036 -25.58
590 590 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,976 +5.00
673–695 682 9 320.00–345.00 $331.20 $2,259 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
280–295 288 2 1,400.00–1,575.00 $1,485.22 —
460–475 468 2 1,325.00–1,675.00 $1,497.19 —
500–515 507 3 1,275.00–1,425.00 $1,358.22 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,078 —
608–613 611 4 185.00–190.00 $187.51 $1,146 —
795 795 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,709 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
150–165 unweaned 158 2 825.00–925.00 $877.38 -191.69

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–240 225 2 525.00–545.00 $535.67 $1,205 —
285 unweaned 285 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,254 —
290 290 1 540.00 $540.00 $1,566 —
395 395 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,778 +10.00
405–445 418 3 420.00–445.00 $430.48 $1,799 +10.48
455–475 465 2 375.00–390.00 $382.66 $1,779 +2.73
450–490 value added 470 2 435.00–450.00 $442.82 $2,081 —
510–535 523 2 375.00–395.00 $385.24 $2,015 +5.17
530 value added 530 1 420.00 $420.00 $2,226 —
565–593 586 4 345.00–370.00 $351.03 $2,057 -11.46
600–638 619 5 325.00–350.00 $333.79 $2,066 -19.71
678–685 682 4 335.00–348.00 $341.47 $2,329 +16.69
710–735 716 4 310.00–315.00 $313.76 $2,247 —
785 785 2 290.00 $290.00 $2,276 —
813 813 2 265.00 $265.00 $2,154 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–290 unweaned 275 2 515.00–520.00 $517.36 $1,423 —
298 298 2 560.00 $560.00 $1,669 —
345 value added 345 1 535.00 $535.00 $1,846 —
355 fancy 355 1 535.00 $535.00 $1,899 -9.43
380 380 1 530.00 $530.00 $2,014 +65.00
400–428 419 7 480.00–515.00 $506.46 $2,122 +21.46
460 fancy 460 1 505.00 $505.00 $2,323 —
460–485 476 5 455.00–485.00 $468.95 $2,232 +0.08
510–530 516 5 445.00–455.00 $447.02 $2,307 +5.45
550–555 552 3 400.00–405.00 $401.68 $2,217 -8.32
600 600 1 375.00 $375.00 $2,250 +4.00
688 688 3 367.00 $367.00 $2,525 —
840 840 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,478 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 1 435.00 $435.00 $1,392 —
370–395 387 3 395.00–420.00 $410.32 $1,588 —
415 415 1 390.00 $390.00 $1,618 +50.00
453 453 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,450 -9.58
533 533 2 345.00 $345.00 $1,839 +5.38
590 590 2 325.00 $325.00 $1,918 —
655 655 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,030 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85–95 unweaned 90 2 825.00–875.00 $848.61 —
113–120 unweaned 115 3 825.00–875.00 $857.66 -56.08
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
485 485 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00 —
548 548 2 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
690 690 1 285.00 $285.00 $1,966 -6.59
789 789 4 287.00 $287.00 $2,264 —
857 857 3 290.00 $290.00 $2,485 —
975 975 1 260.00 $260.00 $2,535 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 unweaned 350 1 535.00 $535.00 $1,872 —
445 445 1 535.00 $535.00 $2,381 —
528 528 2 490.00 $490.00 $2,587 +55.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830 830 2 265.00–282.00 $273.50 $2,270 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
110–125 unweaned 118 2 900.00 $900.00 -125.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 80-85% 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,802 —
843–1275 1063 80-85% 19 160.00–172.00 $164.77 $1,752 —
1045–1340 1151 80-85% 4 154.00–158.00 $156.50 $1,801 -13.25
835–1505 1211 80-85% 33 159.00–176.00 $163.81 $1,984 —
930–1792 1303 80-85% 24 150.00–160.00 $155.53 $2,027 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670–715 685 85-90% 4 130.00–137.00 $133.54 $915 —
675–975 783 85-90% 3 121.00–131.00 $127.19 $996 +11.60
840 840 85-90% 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,126 —
895 895 85-90% 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,405 —
725–1145 931 85-90% 13 143.00–154.00 $148.57 $1,383 -8.93
755–1240 940 85-90% 7 150.00–156.00 $152.12 $1,430 -5.38
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1545 1485 75-80% 2 150.00–160.00 $155.20 $2,305 —
1410–1895 1733 75-80% 3 154.00 $154.00 $2,669 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1095 1048 2 162.00–168.00 $165.14 $1,731 —
1205 1205 1 189.00 $189.00 $2,277 —
1060–1865 1424 16 157.00–182.00 $175.10 $2,493 +0.50
1285–2270 1714 11 185.00–198.00 $191.03 $3,274 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
655 655 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,736
640–960 761 (<2 yrs)Open 4 255.00–290.00 $271.25 $2,064
530–1015 842 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 225.00–260.00 $248.42 $2,092
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
590–930 699 (<2 yrs)Open 11 295.00–340.00 $315.45 $2,205
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1085 1085 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,150.00 $2,150.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980–1120 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,100.00–2,500.00 $2,266.67
1120 1120 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,350.00 $2,350.00
1061–1290 1129 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,675.00–2,725.00 $2,687.50
980–1425 1255 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 2,000.00–2,500.00 $2,279.00
1301 1301 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,250.00 $2,250.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
640–915 763 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 200.00–260.00 $230.00 $1,755
940–1020 980 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 156.00–164.00 $160.00 $1,568
915–1400 1195 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 154.00–170.00 $162.60 $1,943
1245 1245 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,955
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
810 810 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
795–855 825 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,000.00–2,300.00 $2,150.00
620–960 838 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,900.00–2,100.00 $2,000.00
900–1080 990 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,100.00 $2,100.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
450–680 575 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,100.00–1,350.00 $1,233.33
610 610 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00

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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
800–840 820 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,800.00–3,050.00 $2,925.00 —
995–1170 1083 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,400.00–3,150.00 $2,683.33 -716.67
1375 1375 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00 -800.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1210 1210 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 4,150.00 $4,150.00 —
1330 1330 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 4,100.00 $4,100.00 —

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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.