Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 12, 2021

4,099 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $161.68/cwt -10.65 vs last sale · ≈ $926/hd at 573 lb · 66 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $164.19/cwt -10.04 vs last sale · ≈ $686/hd at 418 lb · 48 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $167.80/cwt -10.87 vs last sale · ≈ $844/hd at 503 lb · 46 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,099 11,660 8,821
Feeder cattle 1,856 10,611 7,851
Slaughter cattle 880 621 504
Replacement cattle 1,363 428 466

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 3 Colorado auction markets included Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate for feeder cattle, moderate to good for cow/calf pairs and slaughter cows and bulls. This week, feeder cattle were to lightly tested for an accurate market trend. Slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, April 26, 2021.

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
358–394 385 16 187.00–191.00 $187.93 $724 +0.16
464–497 479 30 179.00–187.00 $181.62 $870 -3.75
500–527 503 46 162.50–184.00 $167.80 $844 -10.87
556–597 573 66 153.00–166.00 $161.68 $926 -10.65
610–641 635 15 154.00–162.00 $155.54 $988 -8.91
696 696 23 148.00 $148.00 $1,030 +10.00
766–778 776 25 134.25–135.00 $134.37 $1,043 —
842 842 11 131.00 $131.00 $1,103 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 307 3 216.00 $216.00 $663 +3.85
356–376 369 22 204.00–205.00 $204.35 $754 -19.11
500–535 520 44 175.00–181.00 $177.78 $924 -14.25
556–590 582 27 164.50–167.00 $166.47 $969 -9.53
600–629 611 22 165.00–166.00 $165.37 $1,010 -5.32
734 734 20 140.00 $140.00 $1,028 +1.00
780 780 11 140.00 $140.00 $1,092 -2.44
801–831 827 32 132.00–134.25 $133.98 $1,108 -5.00
951 951 11 122.50 $122.50 $1,165 -4.40
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
150–185 169 5 325.00–425.00 $392.04 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
688 688 5 130.00 $130.00 $894 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–428 418 48 160.00–166.00 $164.19 $686 -9.72
469–487 483 44 154.00–159.50 $156.45 $756 -13.23
500–531 517 35 148.00–163.00 $152.65 $789 -4.31
550–588 571 29 144.00–152.00 $145.42 $830 -6.84
668–684 678 17 131.00–136.00 $134.26 $910 -7.96
719 719 8 128.00 $128.00 $920 -8.63
794 794 6 124.50 $124.50 $989 -7.67
809 809 30 135.00 $135.00 $1,092 -2.50
853 853 13 120.50 $120.50 $1,028 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367–387 378 38 152.00–163.00 $157.99 $597 -12.92
400–443 405 22 149.00–157.00 $150.52 $610 -11.54
463–491 487 27 146.50–150.00 $146.99 $716 -9.79
528–540 534 32 142.00–148.50 $145.59 $777 -3.67
581 581 35 136.00–141.00 $137.77 $800 -5.70
625–628 627 13 140.00–141.00 $140.31 $880 -1.62
996 996 5 111.00 $111.00 $1,106 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 8 147.50 $147.50 $476 —
391 391 10 141.00 $141.00 $551 -22.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120–135 130 3 375.00–385.00 $378.46 +54.66
170–195 178 4 375.00–450.00 $409.44 +5.73

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
469 469 14 142.00 $142.00 $666 —
585 585 14 130.00 $130.00 $760 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
155–195 179 —— 5 410.00–475.00 $450.28 +100.99
1290 1290 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00 —
1610–1625 1618 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,000.00–2,250.00 $2,124.42 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
586 586 7 137.50 $137.50 $806 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1285 1177 80-85% 6 71.00–75.00 $72.52 $854 -0.64
1005–1750 1320 80-85% 182 63.00–71.00 $66.05 $872 —
935–1680 1324 80-85% 102 51.50–65.00 $60.80 $805 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–2010 1412 75-80% 47 56.00–66.00 $63.29 $894 —
1328–1615 1415 75-80% 17 71.50–75.00 $73.74 $1,043 —
1226–2150 1577 75-80% 99 66.00–73.50 $68.31 $1,077 -2.25
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755–1375 1035 85-90% 72 48.00–59.00 $55.42 $574 —
785–1455 1046 85-90% 8 41.00–51.00 $45.18 $473 —
895–1415 1153 85-90% 76 59.00–68.00 $61.99 $715 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–2865 1651 17 78.00–89.50 $84.01 $1,387 —
1485–2700 1845 46 85.00–99.50 $93.72 $1,729 —
1675–2525 2159 17 92.00–115.00 $100.94 $2,179 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
810–1285 1103 (<2 yrs)Open 11 100.00–110.00 $105.42 $1,163
770–1510 1199 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 24 72.00–83.00 $76.78 $921
1095–1635 1384 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 125 62.50–71.50 $68.85 $953
1375–1485 1430 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 60.50–62.00 $61.28 $876
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1420 1060 (<2 yrs)Open 116 87.50–93.50 $90.94 $964
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
905–1340 1155 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 35 53.00–62.50 $60.52 $699
925–1480 1155 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 85.00–98.00 $89.83 $1,038
1000–1320 1157 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 27 64.00–74.00 $68.52 $793
1150–1205 1175 (<2 yrs)Open 3 113.00–115.00 $114.32 $1,343
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
918–1150 960 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 59.50–67.00 $60.43 $580
750–1185 1002 (<2 yrs)Open 12 87.50–99.00 $94.56 $947
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–1295 1120 (<2 yrs)Open 4 75.00–83.00 $78.12 $875
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900–1060 980 (<2 yrs)Open 2 60.00–61.00 $60.46 $593

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1143–1723 1299 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 80 1,075.00–1,350.00 $1,171.05
1070–1507 1307 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 38 1,300.00–1,450.00 $1,365.70
1087–1480 1310 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 52 760.00–1,110.00 $903.12
1500–1518 1509 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 960.00–975.00 $967.46
1548 1548 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990–1125 1071 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 1,075.00–1,150.00 $1,099.77
1280 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1202–1395 1299 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 825.00–935.00 $884.09

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1279–1300 1281 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,400.00–1,425.00 $1,422.46
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015–1096 1056 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,225.00–1,275.00 $1,249.04
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990–1153 1072 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 950.00–1,075.00 $1,017.25

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
900–1250 1087 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 54 1,775.00–1,885.00 $1,841.32 —
1125–1175 1161 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 26 1,100.00–1,235.00 $1,179.11 -189.18
1200 1200 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 1,850.00 $1,850.00 —
1225–1250 1232 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 17 1,325.00–1,385.00 $1,367.10 +143.23
1100–1525 1234 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 138 1,400.00–1,640.00 $1,533.55 +309.68
1150–1525 1341 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 100 1,110.00–1,275.00 $1,203.88 —
1360–1382 fancy 1371 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 51 1,675.00–1,750.00 $1,695.42 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1090–1115 1109 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 925.00 $925.00 —
1200–1250 fancy 1216 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 11 1,150.00–1,260.00 $1,227.91 —
1200–1342 1231 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 14 1,250.00–1,360.00 $1,326.58 +307.57
1475–1480 1479 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505 1505 3 81.00 $81.00 $1,219 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
900–1150 997 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 64 1,900.00–2,000.00 $1,958.09 —
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 1,775.00 $1,775.00 —

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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.