Cattle Market Pulse

Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market Report, Belen, NM

Belen, New Mexico · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Friday, August 28, 2026

728 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $452.11/cwt ≈ $2,115/hd at 468 lb · 31 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 steers $487.81/cwt +51.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,809/hd at 371 lb · 19 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 steers $388.87/cwt +2.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,843/hd at 474 lb · 16 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 728 603 1,053
Feeder cattle 458 349 668
Slaughter cattle 157 170 166
Replacement cattle 113 84 219

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves sold 15.00-20.00 higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold 3.00-5.00 higher with limited comparisons. Slaughter cows and bulls sold 5.00-10.00 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
245 unweaned 245 1 510.00 $510.00 $1,250 —
280 280 1 545.00 $545.00 $1,526 +55.00
290 unweaned 290 1 495.00 $495.00 $1,436 -5.00
305–320 313 3 515.00–530.00 $524.97 $1,643 —
305–340 unweaned 328 4 485.00–495.00 $488.87 $1,603 +33.87
350–390 366 10 460.00–490.00 $476.52 $1,744 +40.11
355–385 fancy 376 9 495.00–515.00 $500.36 $1,881 —
400–423 413 6 440.00–450.00 $445.87 $1,841 +3.27
415 value added 415 1 480.00 $480.00 $1,992 —
460 460 4 430.00 $430.00 $1,978 —
450–481 fancy 469 27 440.00–470.00 $455.39 $2,136 —
505–523 516 7 395.00–430.00 $399.89 $2,063 -20.11
560–573 571 6 362.00–375.00 $364.13 $2,079 —
633 633 2 340.00 $340.00 $2,152 —
850 850 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,380 +15.58
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 unweaned 295 1 460.00 $460.00 $1,357 +60.00
330–340 335 2 440.00–450.00 $445.07 $1,491 +13.16
400–445 422 8 410.00–435.00 $426.81 $1,801 —
450–495 474 16 370.00–395.00 $388.87 $1,843 +2.25
500–544 530 12 365.00–395.00 $375.95 $1,993 +22.58
565–595 578 3 320.00–340.00 $331.74 $1,917 -8.42
670–695 683 2 315.00–320.00 $317.45 $2,168 -9.88
770 770 1 256.00 $256.00 $1,971 -17.78
870–885 879 4 245.00–247.00 $245.50 $2,158 +25.50
945 945 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,268 ±0.00
950–985 968 2 235.00–240.00 $237.45 $2,299 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–385 369 5 350.00–352.00 $350.79 $1,294 -24.21
425–445 435 2 340.00–345.00 $342.44 $1,490 -7.56
450–485 471 6 350.00–360.00 $354.94 $1,672 +5.03
505–532 520 6 325.00–357.00 $349.49 $1,817 +14.49
585 585 1 300.00 $300.00 $1,755 -22.00
635–640 638 3 270.00–277.00 $274.68 $1,752 +18.81
660 660 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,584 -27.80
830 830 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,950 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 3 305.00–330.00 $321.67 $1,496 —
565 565 1 257.00 $257.00 $1,452 —
660 660 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,782 —
715 715 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,823 —
805 805 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,892 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
155–185 unweaned 169 7 925.00–1,100.00 $1,028.71 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,390 +20.00
590 590 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,416 +10.00
600–630 615 2 225.00–240.00 $232.32 $1,429 —
745 745 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,751 —
763 763 2 187.00 $187.00 $1,427 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
115–145 unweaned 130 2 725.00–750.00 $738.94 -21.06
185 unweaned 185 2 800.00 $800.00 ±0.00
293 unweaned 293 2 800.00 $800.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
295 295 1 875.00 $875.00 —
320–325 323 2 1,000.00–1,050.00 $1,025.19 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 450.00 $450.00 $1,238 —
330–345 334 4 425.00–460.00 $440.22 $1,470 +12.87
330–343 fancy 339 3 475.00–479.00 $476.30 $1,615 —
354–375 361 10 435.00–450.00 $442.55 $1,598 +15.55
390 unweaned 390 1 415.00 $415.00 $1,618 —
400–430 value added 415 2 440.00–450.00 $445.18 $1,847 —
400–440 432 11 400.00–430.00 $407.83 $1,762 —
458 fancy 458 3 420.00 $420.00 $1,924 —
460–480 465 4 385.00–400.00 $396.13 $1,842 +36.13
590 590 2 350.00 $350.00 $2,065 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 248 2 405.00 $405.00 $1,004 —
275 unweaned 275 1 405.00 $405.00 $1,114 +25.00
300–320 307 3 400.00–415.00 $405.22 $1,244 +1.81
383–390 385 4 375.00–395.00 $383.79 $1,478 +8.59
400–445 430 15 360.00–390.00 $373.98 $1,608 +4.05
455–470 465 3 355.00–360.00 $356.63 $1,658 -1.50
520–540 530 2 325.00–335.00 $329.91 $1,749 -3.45
563–585 570 5 315.00–335.00 $322.00 $1,835 +0.18
650 650 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,048 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
245 unweaned 245 1 380.00 $380.00 $931 —
332–335 333 5 370.00–375.00 $372.99 $1,242 +8.61
365 365 3 350.00 $350.00 $1,278 +12.65
430–440 433 9 330.00–350.00 $338.94 $1,468 -1.06
450–495 469 5 315.00–325.00 $320.12 $1,501 -9.88
505–510 506 4 260.00–295.00 $283.78 $1,436 —
550 550 1 275.00 $275.00 $1,512 —
628 628 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,507 —
655 655 3 267.00 $267.00 $1,749 —
730 730 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,862 —
835 835 1 237.00 $237.00 $1,979 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
100–130 unweaned 115 2 600.00 $600.00 —
208 unweaned 208 2 500.00 $500.00 -463.64
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
190 unweaned 190 1 950.00 $950.00 -17.86
213 unweaned 213 2 975.00 $975.00 ±0.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 1 170.00 $170.00 $969 —
610 610 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,068 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655 655 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,670 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170 unweaned 170 1 400.00 $400.00 —
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
300 300 1 950.00 $950.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,734 —
420–440 430 2 310.00–350.00 $330.47 $1,421 —
460–465 463 2 305.00–330.00 $317.57 $1,470 -27.43
670–675 673 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,817 —
705–730 718 2 265.00–270.00 $267.54 $1,921 -4.46
770–795 783 2 180.00–215.00 $197.78 $1,549 —
810–830 820 4 220.00–240.00 $224.94 $1,845 +49.94
860–885 870 3 225.00–230.00 $228.30 $1,986 +53.30
920–945 937 3 175.00–198.00 $182.73 $1,712 —
1020 1020 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,785 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
526 526 4 380.00 $380.00 $1,999 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 1 150.00 $150.00 $750 —
795 795 1 195.00 $195.00 $1,550 —
865 865 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,557 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1233 1233 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 1 175.00 $175.00 $954 —
680 680 1 130.00 $130.00 $884 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
685–790 738 85-90% 2 83.00–96.00 $89.96 $664 —
660–1160 846 85-90% 16 100.00–122.00 $110.18 $932 —
695–1045 870 85-90% 2 114.00–117.00 $115.80 $1,007 -2.92
725–928 872 85-90% 7 125.00–130.00 $126.72 $1,105 +8.00
780–1020 888 85-90% 6 134.00–143.00 $139.15 $1,236 +20.43
750–1154 1029 85-90% 21 134.00–145.00 $139.78 $1,438 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165–1415 1255 80-85% 14 147.00–165.00 $151.78 $1,905 -3.22
780–1449 1263 80-85% 20 138.50–147.00 $141.57 $1,788 -13.43
970–1565 1280 80-85% 17 148.00–160.00 $151.12 $1,934 -3.88
1040–1480 1315 80-85% 3 141.00–144.50 $143.24 $1,884 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1595 1595 75-80% 1 141.50 $141.50 $2,257 -4.50

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–1275 1063 4 148.00–170.00 $158.49 $1,685 —
1145–1620 1424 11 140.00–169.00 $157.47 $2,242 —
1000–1805 1522 9 173.00–186.00 $177.31 $2,699 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
625–1130 810 (<2 yrs)Open 8 245.00–270.00 $253.13 $2,050
615–1235 886 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 31 200.00–245.00 $235.52 $2,087
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
595 595 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,398
595–800 694 (<2 yrs)Open 10 200.00–240.00 $228.50 $1,586
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
618 618 (<2 yrs)Open 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,669

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
850–1110 947 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,300.00–2,500.00 $2,383.33
945–1120 1040 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,500.00–2,700.00 $2,633.33
775–1290 1058 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,300.00–2,700.00 $2,512.50
1130 1130 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,900.00 $2,900.00
1130 1130 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,050.00 $2,050.00
840–1485 1141 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,200.00–2,600.00 $2,425.00
1120–1400 1260 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,700.00–2,275.00 $2,154.55
1150–1487 1431 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 2,000.00 $2,000.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–1065 975 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 158.00–200.00 $175.00 $1,706
1030–1208 1128 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 145.00–172.00 $151.80 $1,712
965–1575 1213 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 140.50–160.00 $150.83 $1,830
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
670 670 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
685–815 760 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,650.00–1,950.00 $1,833.33
845 845 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
850 850 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
615 615 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 142.00 $142.00 $873
Small 4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
650 650 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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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
775–1100 880 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 2,900.00–3,100.00 $2,920.00 —
918 918 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —
970–1285 1061 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 2,600.00–3,000.00 $2,840.00 —
1060–1180 1120 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 3,100.00–3,400.00 $3,250.00 +783.33
1349 1349 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
1405 1405 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,100.00 $3,100.00 ±0.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
815 815 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1380 1380 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —

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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.