Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, August 21, 2026

603 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $340.16/cwt -26.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,997/hd at 587 lb · 15 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $369.93/cwt +9.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,535/hd at 415 lb · 12 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $358.13/cwt -10.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,712/hd at 478 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 603 742 972
Feeder cattle 349 467 627
Slaughter cattle 170 191 179
Replacement cattle 84 84 166

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: No good comparisons for steer and heifer calves, but a downward trend was noticed. There was also no good comparable for feeder steers and heifers. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 5.00-7.00 lower, 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
200 unweaned 200 1 430.00 $430.00 $860 -47.04
250–290 268 3 445.00–465.00 $458.42 $1,229 -5.12
285 unweaned 285 1 400.00 $400.00 $1,140 -60.00
310–328 324 5 430.00–440.00 $431.91 $1,399 -15.01
360–380 370 5 420.00–442.00 $429.89 $1,591 +22.33
460–493 470 8 370.00–400.00 $386.62 $1,817 -16.80
500–525 517 7 337.00–370.00 $353.37 $1,827 —
568–590 587 15 332.00–345.00 $340.16 $1,997 -26.84
600–620 613 4 300.00–327.00 $313.67 $1,923 —
665 665 3 312.00–335.00 $327.33 $2,177 —
700–725 714 9 250.00–277.00 $265.23 $1,894 -39.77
755–795 774 5 252.00–287.00 $273.78 $2,119 +7.65
835 835 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,879 -30.00
875 875 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,925 -75.00
940 940 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,256 +5.00
1140 1140 1 217.00 $217.00 $2,474 ±0.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–310 unweaned 303 3 325.00–350.00 $338.19 $1,025 —
305–315 310 2 355.00–367.00 $360.90 $1,119 —
365 365 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,369 —
430–435 433 2 350.00 $350.00 $1,516 —
455–498 470 9 340.00–362.00 $349.91 $1,645 -11.73
473 473 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,443 -56.64
520–542 538 6 335.00 $335.00 $1,802 +2.39
563 563 2 322.00 $322.00 $1,813 —
600–640 620 2 252.00–260.00 $255.87 $1,586 -21.67
665–685 677 3 252.00–292.00 $267.80 $1,813 -7.20
700–735 722 7 242.00–252.00 $248.62 $1,795 —
785 785 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,962 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 unweaned 275 1 500.00 $500.00 $1,375 +2.08
275 275 2 490.00 $490.00 $1,348 -54.81
340 unweaned 340 1 455.00 $455.00 $1,547 -35.00
359–395 372 11 427.00–457.00 $436.41 $1,623 -42.99
405–440 423 2 440.00–445.00 $442.60 $1,872 +0.14
505 505 1 420.00 $420.00 $2,121 +32.78
810–840 818 4 267.00 $267.00 $2,184 —
860–885 872 3 256.00–277.00 $264.42 $2,306 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
145 unweaned 145 1 760.00 $760.00 —
175 unweaned 175 1 800.00 $800.00 -110.66
208–225 unweaned 213 4 850.00–1,050.00 $939.54 -10.46
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 1 240.00 $240.00 $948 —
510 510 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,275 —
563 563 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,295 -25.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
225–245 unweaned 235 2 900.00–1,110.00 $1,009.47 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
448 448 2 1,275.00 $1,275.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 unweaned 293 5 380.00 $380.00 $1,113 -35.00
320–343 335 3 400.00–405.00 $403.41 $1,351 -17.79
360–395 376 9 360.00–390.00 $375.20 $1,411 -44.80
400–435 415 12 355.00–382.00 $369.93 $1,535 +9.36
470–485 478 11 350.00–365.00 $358.13 $1,712 -10.82
510–515 512 3 330.00–340.00 $333.36 $1,707 -21.64
555–585 573 5 315.00–327.00 $321.82 $1,844 —
600–615 608 2 285.00–310.00 $297.65 $1,810 —
688–695 690 3 275.00–280.00 $278.32 $1,920 —
735 735 1 292.00 $292.00 $2,146 —
785 785 2 265.00 $265.00 $2,080 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
105–148 unweaned 131 7 700.00–810.00 $781.66 +63.23
180–190 unweaned 187 3 900.00–1,000.00 $967.86 —
223 unweaned 223 3 975.00 $975.00 -61.59
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 unweaned 230 1 470.00 $470.00 $1,081 —
298 unweaned 298 2 445.00 $445.00 $1,326 -14.87
318–319 319 6 412.00–435.00 $427.35 $1,363 -28.12
355 355 1 427.00 $427.00 $1,516 -16.51
450 450 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,620 —
785 785 1 305.00 $305.00 $2,394 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–345 325 2 355.00–375.00 $364.38 $1,184 —
380–395 388 2 330.00–345.00 $337.35 $1,309 -47.65
415 415 1 340.00 $340.00 $1,411 —
475 475 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,568 -10.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 1 240.00 $240.00 $984 —
515 515 1 267.00 $267.00 $1,375 —
560 560 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,484 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
200–240 unweaned 220 2 950.00–975.00 $963.64 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
415 415 1 875.00 $875.00 -374.43

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 1 345.00 $345.00 $1,708 —
543 543 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,792 —
570 570 1 260.00 $260.00 $1,482 -10.00
718 718 2 272.00 $272.00 $1,953 +25.00
805 805 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,409 -55.00
850 850 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,488 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302 302 3 470.00 $470.00 $1,419 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
295 unweaned 295 1 725.00 $725.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720 720 1 137.00 $137.00 $986 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635–940 772 85-90% 5 100.00–125.00 $112.56 $869 +17.56
745–900 803 85-90% 3 124.00–127.00 $124.95 $1,003 +6.47
825–950 892 85-90% 3 117.00–120.00 $118.72 $1,059 -16.81
690–983 908 85-90% 13 126.00–134.00 $132.62 $1,204 -18.31
770–1055 914 85-90% 18 126.50–136.00 $132.16 $1,208 -18.77
745–1055 930 85-90% 8 144.00–152.50 $150.56 $1,400 -0.37
740–1155 981 85-90% 47 140.00–151.00 $145.60 $1,428 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–1770 1155 80-85% 19 156.00–165.00 $159.79 $1,846 —
960–1460 1210 80-85% 2 157.00–164.00 $161.22 $1,951 —
885–1840 1230 80-85% 22 148.50–156.00 $152.98 $1,882 —
1170–1400 1263 80-85% 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,958 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1570 1570 75-80% 1 146.00 $146.00 $2,292 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–1475 1143 3 150.00–175.00 $159.74 $1,826 —
1025–2590 1495 13 151.00–180.00 $166.16 $2,484 —
1720–2015 1898 3 185.00–194.00 $188.41 $3,576 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
625–885 806 (<2 yrs)Open 10 250.00–275.00 $261.50 $2,108
705–1070 874 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 200.00–245.00 $236.54 $2,067
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
748–780 754 (<2 yrs)Open 10 262.00–280.00 $267.20 $2,015
900 900 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 275.00 $275.00 $2,475
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
610 610 (<2 yrs)Open 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,372

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890–1195 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,600.00–2,700.00 $2,650.00
960–1330 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,700.00–2,900.00 $2,783.33
995–1350 1210 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,000.00–2,400.00 $2,166.67
1230–1385 1308 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1435 1435 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1490 1490 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1670 1670 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1055–1200 1128 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 167.00–169.00 $168.00 $1,895
1430 1430 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 154.00 $154.00 $2,202
1550 1550 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 161.00 $161.00 $2,496
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
675 675 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
750 750 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
880 880 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
590–615 603 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,000.00 $1,000.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1170 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1147–1505 1281 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 3,575.00–3,625.00 $3,606.25 —
1503–1559 1540 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 6 3,175.00–3,350.00 $3,233.33 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
995 995 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00 -190.00
945–1110 1028 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,500.00–2,800.00 $2,650.00 —
1070–1135 1110 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,300.00–2,800.00 $2,466.67 -283.33
1180 1180 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00 -350.00
1235 1235 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,500.00 $3,500.00 —
1435 1435 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,100.00 $3,100.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1035 1035 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
485 485 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00 —

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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.