Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 26, 2021

2,893 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $140.05/cwt +17.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,059/hd at 756 lb · 61 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $159.90/cwt -21.15 vs last sale · ≈ $823/hd at 514 lb · 50 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $154.87/cwt -6.85 vs last sale · ≈ $726/hd at 469 lb · 42 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,893 4,639 2,209
Feeder cattle 1,498 3,032 1,069
Slaughter cattle 853 903 761
Replacement cattle 542 704 379

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 3 Colorado auctions included Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. The light test of feeder steers under 750 lbs traded with weak undertone, while steers weighing over 750 lbs traded firm. Feeder heifers traded steady to 5.00 lower, though lightly tested. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold unevenly steady. The next available report will be Monday, May 10, 2021.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
404–447 430 34 175.00–180.00 $176.38 $758 -6.44
456–496 473 30 162.00–179.00 $171.37 $811 -7.67
504 fancy 504 15 166.00 $166.00 $837
501–548 519 35 152.00–164.00 $157.29 $816 -19.54
550–596 589 19 150.00–152.00 $150.30 $885 -24.47
673 673 4 154.00 $154.00 $1,036 -8.00
717 717 7 141.00 $141.00 $1,011 -8.32
753–787 780 15 138.00–140.00 $138.39 $1,079 +4.86
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412–438 431 25 170.00–171.00 $170.27 $734 -6.62
458 458 2 167.00 $167.00 $765 -4.58
534 534 6 155.00 $155.00 $828 -17.22
563–595 586 14 146.00–159.00 $153.49 $899 +0.34
611 611 8 148.00 $148.00 $904 -2.00
653–670 665 18 135.00–148.00 $141.01 $938 +0.01

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 4 161.00 $161.00 $630
408–430 422 33 158.00–168.00 $161.83 $683 +0.75
455–490 469 42 151.00–157.00 $154.87 $726 -6.07
521–544 528 30 149.00–157.00 $151.38 $799 -2.51
554–575 571 19 140.00–145.00 $141.02 $805 -3.36
601–620 613 12 136.00–141.00 $136.75 $838 -0.94
651–677 661 27 126.00–127.00 $126.38 $835 -6.83
705–732 724 20 123.00–125.00 $123.52 $894 -2.48
752 752 44 147.00 $147.00 $1,105
768 768 17 121.00–123.00 $122.06 $937 -0.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379–391 384 17 153.00–155.00 $154.16 $592 -6.84
469–495 482 23 140.00–152.00 $145.62 $702
524–538 527 11 138.00–144.00 $139.11 $733
571–583 576 42 126.00–137.00 $130.34 $751 -2.97
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060 1060 1 88.00 $88.00 $933
1130 1130 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,006

↑ Back to top

Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
534 534 6 141.00 $141.00 $753
713 713 13 125.00 $125.00 $891
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
95 95 1 385.00 $385.00 +135.43
160–195 180 3 350.00–425.00 $399.31 +41.54
225 225 1 410.00 $410.00

↑ Back to top

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265–1275 1270 80-85% 2 69.00–70.00 $69.50 $883
980–1870 1329 80-85% 106 61.50–72.00 $65.88 $876
1103–1655 1386 80-85% 85 64.00–75.00 $68.76 $953
993–1825 1420 80-85% 125 52.00–65.00 $59.88 $850
1430–1800 1615 80-85% 2 38.50–49.00 $44.35 $716
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
748–1160 957 85-90% 16 32.50–52.00 $44.67 $427 -4.81
835–1405 1052 85-90% 50 48.00–59.00 $55.40 $583
920–1315 1117 85-90% 34 58.00–71.00 $63.58 $710
895–1525 1165 85-90% 60 58.00–67.50 $60.86 $709 +0.46
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1490 1490 75-80% 1 70.00 $70.00 $1,043
1233–2080 1588 75-80% 74 65.00–77.00 $68.77 $1,092
1280–1835 1607 75-80% 44 58.00–65.50 $61.46 $988

↑ Back to top

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1215 1210 2 81.00–86.00 $83.49 $1,010 +1.49
1355–2220 1626 19 76.00–88.50 $82.61 $1,343
1405–2215 1861 30 86.00–97.50 $91.86 $1,710 -1.21
1675–2360 2048 13 95.00–108.00 $98.80 $2,023 +1.62

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
975–1343 1216 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 46 61.00–69.00 $64.02 $778
1030–1510 1236 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 63 61.00–67.50 $66.44 $821
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745–1223 1075 (<2 yrs)Open 22 90.00–105.00 $96.54 $1,038
865–1495 1181 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 72.00–87.50 $79.93 $944

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
858–1478 1055 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 910.00–975.00 $966.72
1105–1388 1176 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 810.00–910.00 $839.51
1332–1362 1347 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 910.00–975.00 $942.14
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1156 1156 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1417 1417 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,025.00 $1,025.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1180 1180 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 775.00 $775.00
1220 1220 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 860.00 $860.00
1355–1400 1387 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 975.00 $975.00

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
936–1016 963 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 12 1,000.00–1,025.00 $1,016.20
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
968–1180 992 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 975.00–1,035.00 $982.93

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1150–1315 1217 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 1,010.00–1,110.00 $1,038.98
1100–1425 1232 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 48 1,450.00–1,575.00 $1,522.70
1250 1250 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 31 1,735.00 $1,735.00
1275 1275 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 11 1,310.00 $1,310.00
1180–1350 1293 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 23 1,610.00–1,650.00 $1,614.76
1426 1426 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1472–1732 1559 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 9 1,600.00–1,950.00 $1,820.36
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1223–1513 1357 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 10 1,200.00–1,400.00 $1,260.34
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
925–1190 991 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,375.00–1,400.00 $1,392.50
1095–1110 1105 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 975.00–1,025.00 $1,008.48
1175 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00

↑ Back to top

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
973 973 2 88.00 $88.00 $856
1003–1028 1015 10 88.00–89.00 $88.50 $898
1098 1098 14 89.00 $89.00 $977
1160–1198 1190 5 89.00–91.00 $90.61 $1,078
1210 1210 1 89.50 $89.50 $1,083
1269–1290 1273 5 88.50–89.00 $88.90 $1,132
1305–1320 1315 3 87.50–89.00 $88.50 $1,164
1413–1422 1420 11 84.50–89.00 $85.31 $1,211
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
852 852 5 88.00 $88.00 $750
1353 1353 2 81.50 $81.50 $1,103
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 6 60.00 $60.00 $696

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
925–1100 972 (<2 yrs)Open 84 1,800.00–1,900.00 $1,844.95
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1285 1285 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00

↑ Back to top

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.