Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 5, 2021

11,660 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary report →

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $157.77/cwt -1.57 vs last sale · ≈ $831/hd at 527 lb · 559 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $148.24/cwt +1.55 vs last sale · ≈ $919/hd at 620 lb · 456 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $169.68/cwt -0.36 vs last sale · ≈ $791/hd at 466 lb · 437 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,660 7,218 2,742
Feeder cattle 10,611 6,098 1,946
Slaughter cattle 621 672 601
Replacement cattle 428 448 195

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compare to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auctions included Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Centennial Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good for feeder cattle, good to very good for slaughter cows and bulls. Feeder steers under 450 lbs mostly 7.00 to 9.00 higher, 450-700 lbs steady to 3.00 lower with instances of 9.00 lower, and over 700 lbs 3.00 to 7.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs 2.00 to 6.00 higher, 500-600 lbs steady to 3.00 lower, and over 600 lbs 3.00 to 6.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls traded 3.00 to 5.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, April 19, 2021.

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
310–337 333 17 211.00–213.00 $212.15 $706 -4.64
352–391 377 57 201.00–230.00 $223.46 $842 +8.55
403–448 422 177 197.50–219.00 $210.25 $887 +6.55
430–442 thin fleshed 441 56 227.50–228.00 $227.96 $1,005 +13.63
453 thin fleshed 453 26 212.00–213.00 $212.50 $963 —
450–490 464 38 191.00–201.00 $199.02 $923 -2.29
501–519 thin fleshed 510 163 199.00–201.50 $200.12 $1,021 -2.00
503–540 527 188 187.00–198.50 $192.03 $1,012 -0.77
550–588 562 207 175.00–188.00 $180.30 $1,013 -8.96
571 571 8 176.00 $176.00 $1,005 -13.26
554–594 thin fleshed 580 68 194.00–197.00 $196.41 $1,139 +0.41
600–644 608 221 167.00–182.00 $170.69 $1,038 -2.58
608–633 thin fleshed 630 39 184.00–187.00 $184.30 $1,161 —
642 642 10 144.50 $144.50 $928 -28.77
651–675 thin fleshed 656 61 164.00–179.00 $167.29 $1,097 -1.71
651–699 676 212 150.00–173.00 $161.25 $1,090 —
696 696 5 152.00 $152.00 $1,058 —
700–743 707 40 143.00–162.00 $154.90 $1,095 +7.28
717 717 24 139.00 $139.00 $997 -8.62
755–766 thin fleshed 761 50 145.00–147.60 $146.36 $1,114 -1.64
758–799 768 180 136.00–150.00 $142.44 $1,094 +4.90
797 797 3 136.00 $136.00 $1,084 —
802–838 817 92 136.00–143.00 $138.98 $1,135 +7.05
898 898 4 125.00 $125.00 $1,122 -3.87
917–934 929 10 128.00–128.25 $128.18 $1,191 +4.11
961–982 978 33 124.00–128.00 $126.90 $1,241 +3.40
1038 1038 3 119.50 $119.50 $1,240 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
261–283 266 9 203.00–207.00 $206.05 $548 —
337 337 3 195.00 $195.00 $657 —
381–396 391 11 186.00–191.00 $187.77 $734 —
433–448 436 50 185.00–199.00 $190.49 $831 +15.46
459–482 468 49 182.00–190.00 $185.37 $868 -3.14
503–544 531 171 171.00–185.00 $178.67 $949 -7.07
555–588 572 18 170.00–174.00 $172.33 $986 —
601–638 623 63 161.00–169.00 $164.45 $1,025 +1.45
650–687 669 45 149.00 $149.00 $997 —
694 694 5 138.00 $138.00 $958 —
702–741 729 21 146.00–153.00 $148.46 $1,082 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
706 706 42 63.00 $63.00 $445 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
526 526 7 171.00 $171.00 $899 —
566 566 9 173.00 $173.00 $979 -9.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
587 587 9 171.00 $171.00 $1,004 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–368 365 137 172.00–182.00 $180.06 $657 +1.24
400 thin fleshed 400 11 181.00 $181.00 $724 —
400–443 430 229 166.00–179.00 $173.91 $748 +4.85
450–495 466 437 165.00–174.00 $169.68 $791 +6.38
518 fancy 518 56 165.00 $165.00 $855 —
500–548 528 503 152.00–165.00 $156.96 $829 -2.11
552 fancy 552 40 164.00 $164.00 $905 —
550–595 573 168 146.00–160.50 $152.26 $872 -0.40
590–598 592 28 136.00–144.00 $138.31 $819 -14.35
615 fancy 615 34 156.00 $156.00 $959 +3.49
600–646 620 419 143.00–155.00 $147.63 $915 +3.31
627 627 3 146.00 $146.00 $915 +1.68
662–664 663 49 151.50–154.00 $152.52 $1,011 +12.54
659–676 673 46 131.00 $131.00 $882 -8.98
651–696 675 226 137.25–148.00 $142.22 $960 +2.24
701–745 725 142 134.00–138.25 $136.63 $991 +5.83
709–742 735 108 144.00–151.00 $147.56 $1,085 +16.76
750–797 780 119 131.00–134.00 $132.17 $1,031 +4.83
810 810 15 137.50 $137.50 $1,114 +10.61
800–846 820 43 124.00–137.00 $129.48 $1,062 +2.59
878–883 880 5 119.50–122.00 $120.50 $1,060 —
852–897 888 25 124.00–124.50 $124.40 $1,105 —
903–940 922 151 112.50–119.00 $118.02 $1,088 +0.65
923 923 3 121.00 $121.00 $1,117 +3.63
953 953 2 118.50 $118.50 $1,129 —
1106–1138 1122 18 106.50–108.00 $107.24 $1,203 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339–348 343 15 162.50–174.00 $168.56 $578 —
356–390 367 61 169.00–176.00 $170.91 $627 +14.32
411–441 425 134 151.00–169.00 $162.06 $689 +2.01
462–498 482 53 152.50–159.00 $156.78 $756 -3.22
518–549 536 232 143.00–157.50 $149.26 $800 -1.74
538 538 3 142.50 $142.50 $767 -8.50
552–598 571 49 140.00–148.00 $143.47 $819 -1.72
605–646 628 59 139.00–144.00 $141.93 $891 +0.93
645 645 4 136.00 $136.00 $877 —
652–698 680 90 131.00–139.00 $136.11 $926 +6.23
700–748 723 40 127.00–131.00 $129.33 $935 —
765–788 784 19 124.00 $124.00 $972 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 399 12 163.00 $163.00 $650 —
483–499 497 14 137.50–152.00 $149.99 $745 —
515 515 42 144.50 $144.50 $744 —
556–592 585 60 142.00–143.50 $143.31 $838 —
636 636 9 132.00 $132.00 $840 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85–90 88 2 210.00–250.00 $229.43 +27.29
115–130 125 3 225.00–385.00 $323.80 +24.43
175–190 184 4 360.00–435.00 $403.71 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
623 623 2 142.00 $142.00 $885 —
740 740 2 126.00 $126.00 $932 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
614 614 4 129.00 $129.00 $792 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
105–125 118 4 285.00–385.00 $321.97 -34.25
155–180 162 5 275.00–500.00 $349.29 -10.71
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 4 143.00 $143.00 $922 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
968–1850 1186 80-85% 11 70.00–77.00 $73.16 $868 —
905–1630 1219 80-85% 44 49.00–64.50 $62.37 $760 —
950–1777 1382 80-85% 186 63.50–73.00 $67.40 $931 +4.09
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
680–1520 980 85-90% 17 36.00–51.00 $42.74 $419 —
765–1490 1075 85-90% 35 48.00–60.00 $56.08 $603 —
1065–1160 1113 85-90% 2 70.00–72.00 $71.04 $791 +5.47
825–1445 1129 85-90% 73 59.00–69.00 $64.82 $732 +5.20
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1685 1513 75-80% 11 73.00–82.50 $76.69 $1,160 +9.35
1244–2095 1597 75-80% 82 66.00–76.50 $70.56 $1,127 —
1285–1830 1668 75-80% 11 61.00–65.50 $63.72 $1,063 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1965 1608 19 77.00–93.00 $84.92 $1,366 +4.51
1253–2360 1754 53 83.00–104.00 $93.24 $1,635 —
1365–2400 1915 22 90.00–118.50 $100.90 $1,932 +11.70

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
880–1265 1035 (<2 yrs)Open 18 102.00–108.00 $105.54 $1,092
880–1721 1346 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 35 73.00–85.00 $76.72 $1,033
905–1650 1378 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 78 66.00–72.00 $69.88 $963
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
908–1376 1123 (<2 yrs)Open 55 87.50–94.50 $91.90 $1,032
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
655–983 898 (<2 yrs)Open 12 116.00–127.00 $118.31 $1,062
875–1360 1056 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 62.00–71.00 $65.75 $694
950–1298 1243 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 86.00–96.00 $87.41 $1,087
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
665–847 739 (<2 yrs)Open 7 75.00–82.50 $78.74 $582
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
670–1150 768 (<2 yrs)Open 5 63.00–71.00 $66.51 $511

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1077 1077 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1190–1400 1330 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 600.00–775.00 $722.81
1243–1398 1354 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 10 800.00–925.00 $852.98

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
750–774 767 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 26 650.00–675.00 $657.53 —
700–880 770 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 27 560.00–625.00 $579.13 —
800–950 834 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 43 610.00–635.00 $627.17 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1166–1400 1230 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 19 975.00–1,025.00 $1,019.01 —
1515 1515 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
1600 1600 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175–1200 1185 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 1,285.00–1,425.00 $1,368.29 —
1200–1250 1244 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 1,210.00–1,325.00 $1,223.87 —
1250–1260 1253 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 1,125.00–1,200.00 $1,143.86 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 8 110.00 $110.00 $378 —
684 684 10 89.00 $89.00 $609 —
831–838 833 13 83.50–86.50 $84.43 $703 —
903 903 3 88.50 $88.50 $799 —
960–992 975 19 88.00–89.50 $88.72 $865 —
1047 1047 13 90.00 $90.00 $942 —
1138–1141 1140 13 86.50–88.00 $87.65 $999 —
1216–1248 1224 12 85.00–88.00 $87.24 $1,068 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 3 155.00 $155.00 $294 —
294 294 9 146.00 $146.00 $429 —
364 364 7 144.00 $144.00 $524 —
447 447 21 154.50 $154.50 $691 —
451 451 5 150.00 $150.00 $676 —
736 736 8 117.50 $117.50 $865 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 4 137.00 $137.00 $443 —
433 433 17 130.00 $130.00 $563 —
590 590 27 120.00 $120.00 $708 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 298 10 75.00 $75.00 $224 —
353 353 9 75.00 $75.00 $265 —
479 479 11 71.00 $71.00 $340 —
510 510 3 74.00 $74.00 $377 —
658 658 2 76.00 $76.00 $500 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
346 346 31 113.50 $113.50 $393 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
332 332 16 71.00 $71.00 $236 —
709 709 8 75.00 $75.00 $532 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
467 467 5 124.00 $124.00 $579 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875 875 4 52.00 $52.00 $455 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
173–191 188 18 123.00–132.50 $124.46 $234 —
209–240 219 14 125.00–135.00 $131.45 $288 —
252–270 263 23 130.00–133.00 $131.13 $345 —
307–339 328 374 122.00–125.50 $125.15 $410 —
377–397 392 85 123.00–132.00 $128.40 $503 —
400–423 415 29 116.00–129.00 $125.83 $522 —
451–495 471 44 121.00–133.50 $129.13 $608 —
528 528 36 118.00 $118.00 $623 —
555–566 565 35 111.00–114.00 $111.17 $628 —
605 605 3 96.00 $96.00 $581 —
654–693 670 23 90.00–99.00 $92.24 $618 —
811 811 5 88.00 $88.00 $714 —
854–868 860 15 88.50–90.75 $89.41 $769 —
915–934 926 19 87.00–91.00 $88.15 $816 —
1055 1055 6 84.00 $84.00 $886 —
1218 1218 2 89.00 $89.00 $1,084 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 6 123.00 $123.00 $295 —
251 251 5 125.00 $125.00 $314 —
336 336 19 120.00 $120.00 $403 —
356–392 385 22 110.00–114.00 $110.67 $426 —
400–440 414 50 101.00–113.00 $108.93 $451 —
451–495 464 34 107.00–115.00 $112.23 $521 —
518 518 3 104.00 $104.00 $539 —
560 560 15 101.00 $101.00 $566 —
621 621 35 87.00 $87.00 $540 —
651 651 11 88.00 $88.00 $573 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257 257 6 184.00 $184.00 $473 —
377–394 389 32 165.00–171.50 $169.53 $659 —
456 fancy 456 17 171.50 $171.50 $782 —
602 602 51 143.75 $143.75 $865 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
239 239 7 117.00 $117.00 $280 —
300–336 323 31 105.00–111.00 $105.56 $341 —
393 393 19 100.00 $100.00 $393 —
405–448 436 11 92.00–99.00 $97.23 $424 —
456–492 476 18 91.00–100.00 $94.83 $451 —
588 588 5 88.00 $88.00 $517 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 18 121.00 $121.00 $393 —
394 394 32 127.00 $127.00 $500 —
581 581 20 110.00 $110.00 $639 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 17 151.00 $151.00 $536 —
487–490 488 16 142.00–146.00 $142.75 $697 —
524 524 17 123.00 $123.00 $645 —
694 694 8 118.50 $118.50 $822 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
486 486 9 163.50 $163.50 $795 —
565 565 11 150.50 $150.50 $850 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
352 352 12 72.00 $72.00 $253 —
531 531 5 78.00 $78.00 $414 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1223 1223 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —

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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.