Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, May 8, 2026

469 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 3-weight M&L 2 steers $458.16/cwt +68.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,678/hd at 366 lb · 20 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $390.92/cwt -6.60 vs last sale · ≈ $2,256/hd at 577 lb · 13 head
light 3-weight M&L 1-2 steers $496.42/cwt +11.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,609/hd at 324 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 469 518 522
Feeder cattle 338 304 264
Slaughter cattle 75 89 142
Replacement cattle 56 125 116

Market comments — USDA reporter

No report last week due to reporters absence: compared to two weeks ago: With limited comparisons, Steer and heifer calves sod 5.00-10.00 lower. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 3.00-5.00 higher. 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
210–245 220 5 525.00–535.00 $532.77 $1,172 —
260–267 265 4 525.00–550.00 $531.13 $1,407 —
255–285 unweaned 273 3 485.00–505.00 $496.62 $1,356 -18.38
308 value added 308 3 550.00 $550.00 $1,694 —
310–325 317 3 490.00–525.00 $506.87 $1,607 -13.13
325–348 unweaned 338 5 450.00–465.00 $458.00 $1,548 —
360–375 368 2 540.00–545.00 $542.55 $1,997 -3.63
405–448 434 3 500.00–515.00 $510.33 $2,215 +0.33
470–490 475 4 485.00–490.00 $488.71 $2,321 +20.12
500–518 516 8 455.00–465.00 $463.79 $2,393 +0.44
555–590 577 13 380.00–402.00 $390.92 $2,256 -6.60
618–635 624 5 345.00–375.00 $362.95 $2,265 -17.05
660–690 676 7 337.00–370.00 $345.66 $2,337 -24.39
705–725 715 2 340.00–360.00 $350.14 $2,504 —
788–797 793 6 330.00–335.00 $332.49 $2,637 -0.04
815 815 1 347.00 $347.00 $2,828 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 1 420.00 $420.00 $1,239 —
357–385 366 19 455.00–485.00 $459.90 $1,683 +69.74
370 unweaned 370 1 425.00 $425.00 $1,572 —
425 425 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,870 +19.26
460 460 2 415.00–425.00 $420.00 $1,932 +20.00
521–535 524 6 380.00–425.00 $404.09 $2,117 +49.09
850 850 1 275.00 $275.00 $2,338 —
915 915 1 252.00 $252.00 $2,306 +37.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270–288 282 6 575.00–580.00 $578.40 $1,631 —
355 unweaned 355 2 550.00 $550.00 $1,952 —
365–366 366 5 555.00–565.00 $557.00 $2,039 -37.20
475 475 1 515.00 $515.00 $2,446 -20.68
500–520 513 6 475.00–505.00 $487.27 $2,500 -3.52
550–583 569 4 460.00–475.00 $466.19 $2,653 +14.17
640 640 1 420.00 $420.00 $2,688 -10.00
760 760 2 352.00 $352.00 $2,675 +15.70
825 825 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,970 +10.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
295 295 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —
330 330 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —
510–530 520 2 1,550.00–1,600.00 $1,575.48 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725 725 3 222.00 $222.00 $1,610 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 185.00 $185.00 $842 —
525 525 1 185.00 $185.00 $971 -34.81
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
260 unweaned 260 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 +100.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160 unweaned 160 1 900.00 $900.00 -125.00

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220–240 225 4 535.00–560.00 $553.33 $1,245 —
328 328 3 495.00 $495.00 $1,624 -40.00
351–370 355 5 475.00–505.00 $498.74 $1,771 -15.05
408 408 5 480.00–485.00 $482.00 $1,967 -19.50
463–490 472 3 450.00–460.00 $456.54 $2,155 -6.74
505–508 506 6 435.00 $435.00 $2,201 +3.69
578–580 579 4 370.00–392.00 $380.98 $2,206 —
665–680 669 4 330.00–355.00 $348.64 $2,332 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–288 272 4 520.00 $520.00 $1,414 —
315–338 327 6 490.00–500.00 $494.82 $1,618 -25.18
350 350 1 440.00 $440.00 $1,540 -19.79
420 420 1 460.00 $460.00 $1,932 +2.63
480 480 1 435.00 $435.00 $2,088 ±0.00
503–540 526 8 375.00–385.00 $377.39 $1,985 -7.61
595 595 1 370.00 $370.00 $2,202 -12.18
680–695 691 4 330.00–345.00 $341.31 $2,358 +2.29
833 833 2 295.00 $295.00 $2,457 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–340 315 4 455.00–460.00 $457.42 $1,441 —
398 398 2 400.00 $400.00 $1,592 —
415–435 422 3 395.00–405.00 $398.44 $1,681 —
460–480 470 2 365.00–370.00 $367.55 $1,727 -7.45
510–535 527 3 325.00–355.00 $341.61 $1,800 —
550–573 568 5 335.00–355.00 $340.09 $1,932 +4.84
695 695 2 305.00 $305.00 $2,120 +15.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
125–135 unweaned 128 5 800.00–950.00 $844.11 -30.89
185 unweaned 185 1 950.00 $950.00 -50.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
488 488 3 150.00 $150.00 $732 -115.00
565 565 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,045 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
345 345 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
430 430 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,810 —
525 525 1 390.00 $390.00 $2,048 +10.00
565–580 573 2 305.00–335.00 $319.80 $1,832 —
605 605 1 335.00 $335.00 $2,027 —
665 665 1 357.00 $357.00 $2,374 —
820 820 1 292.00 $292.00 $2,394 —
865 865 1 275.00 $275.00 $2,379 —
1070 1070 1 215.00 $215.00 $2,300 —
1180 1180 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,419 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
210–215 unweaned 213 2 950.00–1,150.00 $1,048.82 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
648 648 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,102 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 unweaned 285 1 330.00 $330.00 $940 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–1375 1057 80-85% 29 162.00–178.00 $172.19 $1,820 —
870–1545 1090 80-85% 18 166.00–176.50 $172.91 $1,885 +14.15
870–1580 1151 80-85% 5 160.00–162.00 $160.48 $1,847 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 85-90% 1 115.00 $115.00 $776 —
695–970 816 85-90% 5 150.00–158.00 $155.46 $1,269 +6.11
655–1165 873 85-90% 3 147.00–167.00 $156.89 $1,370 +7.54
890 890 85-90% 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,246 -9.35

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1160 1123 3 162.00–192.00 $176.33 $1,980 —
1140 1140 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,280 —
1050–1745 1377 5 194.00–205.00 $199.76 $2,751 —
1650–1975 1802 3 210.00–212.50 $211.42 $3,810 +5.76

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
660–1240 910 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 20 225.00–250.00 $241.90 $2,201
845–1190 979 (<2 yrs)Open 9 250.00–265.00 $255.22 $2,499
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1008 1008 (<2 yrs)Open 4 295.00 $295.00 $2,974
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
625 625 (<2 yrs)Open 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,406

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885 885 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
940 940 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00
950–1125 1052 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,700.00–3,000.00 $2,875.00
1215 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
810–980 895 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 225.00–230.00 $227.50 $2,036
1040 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,664
1135 1135 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 180.00 $180.00 $2,043
1400 1400 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 171.00 $171.00 $2,394
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
995 995 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,781

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —
1100 1100 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,025.00 $3,025.00 —
885–1530 1158 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,600.00–3,525.00 $3,200.00 —
975–1495 1208 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 3,000.00–3,100.00 $3,066.67 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
980 980 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,750.00 $3,750.00 —
1195 1195 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,425.00 $3,425.00 —
1320 1320 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,350.00 $3,350.00 —
1450 1450 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,550.00 $3,550.00 -200.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
800 800 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —

↑ Back to top

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.