Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 3, 2021

6,289 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $151.01/cwt -10.82 vs last sale · ≈ $637/hd at 422 lb · 208 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $132.14/cwt -4.61 vs last sale · ≈ $813/hd at 615 lb · 187 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $140.91/cwt -10.47 vs last sale · ≈ $737/hd at 523 lb · 145 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,289 2,893 945
Feeder cattle 4,517 1,498 102
Slaughter cattle 932 853 569
Replacement cattle 840 542 274

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auctions included: Centennial Livestock, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. The bulk of this week's supply were heifers. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold 5.00 to 9.00 lower, 500-600 lbs 2.00 to 6.00 higher, and over 600 lbs mixed selling mostly 3.00 to 10.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 650 lbs sold moslty 10.00 to 12.00 lower, and over 650 lbs steady to 7.00 higher. There were no offerings to compare weighing over 800 lbs this week. Average dressing slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00 higher, and slaughter bulls sold 1.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, May 17, 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
308–337 332 19 171.00–176.00 $171.73 $570 —
364–395 387 27 166.00–182.00 $170.25 $659 —
400–432 414 58 161.00–175.00 $167.49 $693 -8.89
457–497 470 53 161.00–171.00 $166.61 $783 -4.76
460–478 thin fleshed 470 44 171.00–173.00 $171.84 $808 —
500–543 528 76 152.00–170.00 $159.98 $845 +2.69
553–588 574 41 147.50–171.00 $156.87 $900 +6.57
576–584 fancy 582 58 181.00–192.00 $188.62 $1,098 —
616–646 624 60 149.50–163.00 $156.20 $975 —
652–691 665 22 143.00–155.00 $149.11 $992 -4.89
700–748 722 34 144.00–159.50 $151.83 $1,096 +10.83
771 771 17 141.00 $141.00 $1,087 +2.61
865 865 60 126.50 $126.50 $1,094 —
889 fancy 889 18 175.50 $175.50 $1,560 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 5 160.00 $160.00 $752 -7.00
504–539 526 40 146.00–162.00 $156.39 $823 +1.39
550–588 574 14 140.00–155.00 $149.87 $860 -3.62
604 604 15 140.00 $140.00 $846 -8.00
659–673 664 24 134.00–146.00 $138.06 $917 -2.95
852–885 873 50 118.25–127.00 $120.21 $1,049 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379–396 387 29 148.00–151.00 $149.89 $580 -11.11
400–448 422 208 142.00–161.00 $151.01 $637 -10.82
454–492 471 122 136.00–152.00 $143.17 $674 -11.70
503–547 523 145 133.00–150.00 $140.91 $737 -10.47
550–585 567 80 126.00–146.00 $130.95 $742 -10.07
600–635 615 187 123.50–141.50 $132.14 $813 -4.61
653–692 660 104 120.00–137.25 $133.45 $881 +7.07
708–749 739 59 120.00–127.00 $124.20 $918 +0.68
756–766 764 20 122.00–122.50 $122.40 $935 +0.34
800–828 812 101 116.00–124.00 $117.35 $953 —
852 852 13 115.00 $115.00 $980 —
900–918 909 6 113.00–116.00 $114.49 $1,041 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331 331 9 160.00 $160.00 $530 —
411–440 423 14 147.00–150.00 $149.11 $631 —
454–498 468 14 136.00–144.00 $139.07 $651 -6.55
524–542 534 60 134.00–139.50 $138.73 $741 -0.38
554–587 560 46 126.00–131.00 $126.91 $711 -3.43
633 633 12 122.00 $122.00 $772 —
654 654 13 124.00 $124.00 $811 —
756–795 770 17 114.50–119.00 $116.14 $894 —
841–847 845 15 113.50–117.00 $115.61 $977 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 85 1 250.00 $250.00 —
105–135 120 9 260.00–360.00 $304.42 —
150–198 185 11 335.00–435.00 $397.36 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85–95 90 2 235.00–260.00 $248.19 -136.81
100–135 122 11 285.00–375.00 $336.83 —
150–195 171 8 360.00–460.00 $417.15 +17.84
200–228 218 4 450.00–485.00 $474.49 +64.49

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1320 1263 80-85% 2 40.00–46.00 $42.86 $541 -26.64
1220–1330 1279 80-85% 8 58.00–61.00 $59.71 $764 -9.79
960–1693 1353 80-85% 147 51.00–64.50 $59.47 $805 -9.29
1065–1840 1375 80-85% 65 63.00–72.50 $66.22 $911 -2.54
1111–1595 1379 80-85% 108 63.00–71.50 $68.25 $941 -0.51
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–1255 984 85-90% 11 46.00–51.00 $48.49 $477 +3.82
915–1150 1055 85-90% 6 55.50–57.00 $56.27 $594 +0.87
820–1555 1111 85-90% 70 44.00–59.00 $53.74 $597 -9.84
915–1345 1133 85-90% 44 58.00–67.00 $61.54 $697 -2.04
1025–1265 1156 85-90% 6 68.00–70.00 $68.99 $798 +8.13
1020–1415 1167 85-90% 16 57.00–67.00 $60.51 $706 -0.35
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240–2020 1600 75-80% 41 56.00–65.00 $62.14 $994 +0.68
1329–2175 1631 75-80% 59 65.00–75.00 $68.73 $1,121 +7.27
1631 1631 75-80% 6 72.00 $72.00 $1,174 +10.54

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1190 1183 2 70.00–75.00 $72.48 $857 —
1390–2480 1828 34 83.00–88.50 $85.48 $1,563 —
1680–2265 1947 3 95.50–100.50 $98.90 $1,926 —
1552–2475 2012 25 87.00–97.50 $90.48 $1,820 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1005–1635 1179 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 81 57.00–66.00 $61.26 $722
855–1441 1220 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 81 61.00–69.50 $65.05 $794
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
980–1195 1111 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 69.00–79.00 $71.69 $796
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–1195 1036 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 81.00–93.00 $84.92 $880

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1385–1688 1593 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,000.00–1,100.00 $1,052.98

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1000–1375 1261 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 49 1,450.00–1,650.00 $1,589.90 -145.10
1100–1550 1305 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 26 1,160.00–1,475.00 $1,309.09 —
1125–1400 1332 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 27 1,100.00–1,200.00 $1,130.39 —
1425–1553 1458 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 16 1,210.00–1,300.00 $1,250.51 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
925–1175 1082 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 23 775.00–875.00 $801.70 —
1046–1130 1088 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
1166 1166 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
1229–1369 1320 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 18 1,400.00–1,500.00 $1,434.42 —
1325–1742 1444 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 29 1,400.00–1,585.00 $1,497.72 —
1250–1668 1526 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 19 1,300.00–1,475.00 $1,388.61 —
1440–1708 1538 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 11 1,125.00–1,275.00 $1,225.18 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1161–1366 1210 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 1,350.00–1,450.00 $1,413.97 —
1020–1420 1265 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 10 1,125.00–1,275.00 $1,224.04 —
1235–1403 1365 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 9 1,125.00–1,300.00 $1,224.93 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1023–1395 1116 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,075.00–1,100.00 $1,092.19 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295–298 297 4 92.50–102.50 $97.53 $290 —
337 337 33 95.00 $95.00 $320 —
381–399 391 26 110.00–112.50 $111.03 $434 —
435 435 4 98.00 $98.00 $426 —
455 455 2 93.50 $93.50 $425 —
647 647 3 111.00 $111.00 $718 —
905–940 935 8 86.00–88.00 $86.37 $808 —
983–985 984 6 86.00–87.50 $86.50 $851 -1.50
1021–1028 1023 14 87.00–88.00 $87.71 $897 -0.79
1069–1098 1081 9 85.50–87.50 $86.82 $939 -2.18
1112–1148 1140 15 86.50–91.00 $88.28 $1,006 —
1165 1165 3 88.00 $88.00 $1,025 -2.61
1204–1240 1214 13 84.50–87.50 $86.45 $1,050 -3.05
1252–1255 1253 5 84.50–87.00 $86.00 $1,078 -2.90
1353 1353 6 86.50 $86.50 $1,170 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
291 291 20 75.00 $75.00 $218 —
328 328 6 78.00 $78.00 $256 —
475 475 3 86.00 $86.00 $408 —
505 505 2 89.00 $89.00 $449 —
627 627 5 85.00 $85.00 $533 —
653–655 653 7 81.00–88.00 $82.00 $535 —
895 895 1 83.00 $83.00 $743 —
958 958 2 77.00 $77.00 $738 —
1010–1040 1035 18 78.00–84.50 $80.19 $830 —
1078 1078 6 81.00 $81.00 $873 —
1103 1103 2 84.50 $84.50 $932 —
1198 1198 10 72.00 $72.00 $863 —
1225 1225 1 77.00 $77.00 $943 —
1345 1345 1 75.00 $75.00 $1,009 —
1470 1470 1 71.00 $71.00 $1,044 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
214 214 4 122.50 $122.50 $262 —
395 395 4 119.00 $119.00 $470 —
475 475 5 115.00 $115.00 $546 —
604 fancy 604 4 128.00 $128.00 $773 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 3 71.00 $71.00 $219 —
393 393 3 78.00 $78.00 $307 —
510 510 2 78.00 $78.00 $398 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
648 648 5 64.00 $64.00 $415 —
665 665 2 67.50 $67.50 $449 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278–295 293 23 114.00–118.00 $117.50 $344 —
305–349 336 317 107.50–114.50 $111.56 $375 —
359–388 378 180 105.00–117.00 $113.27 $428 —
401–436 423 160 109.00–116.00 $113.89 $482 —
455–484 474 69 109.00–113.00 $111.65 $529 —
515–542 533 68 104.50–109.50 $107.55 $573 —
559–570 562 30 99.00–104.50 $103.20 $580 —
612 612 8 93.00 $93.00 $569 —
727–728 728 24 80.00–81.00 $80.88 $589 —
893 893 4 77.00 $77.00 $688 —
1163 1163 2 79.00 $79.00 $919 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
210–247 227 59 90.00–92.00 $91.37 $207 —
260–299 293 12 98.00–105.00 $103.96 $305 —
308–345 322 32 93.00–100.00 $97.08 $313 —
390 390 24 100.00 $100.00 $390 —
415 415 14 95.00 $95.00 $394 —
455–468 462 4 80.00–93.00 $86.41 $399 —
502–534 521 22 89.00–93.00 $90.23 $470 —
598 598 6 83.00 $83.00 $496 —
602 602 5 77.00 $77.00 $464 —
805 805 5 71.00 $71.00 $572 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–388 370 27 169.50–170.00 $169.62 $628 —
425–430 430 48 158.00–165.00 $164.57 $708 —
480 480 7 150.00 $150.00 $720 —
500 500 10 150.00 $150.00 $750 —
523 fancy 523 14 161.50 $161.50 $845 —
599 599 8 139.50 $139.50 $836 —
649 fancy 649 6 143.00 $143.00 $928 —
692 692 10 129.00 $129.00 $893 —
713–719 717 16 123.00–133.25 $129.43 $928 —
888–893 891 4 115.00–117.00 $116.00 $1,034 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
212 212 5 141.00 $141.00 $299 —
386 386 6 139.50 $139.50 $538 —
510–533 524 18 120.00–132.50 $127.56 $668 —
756 756 5 107.00 $107.00 $809 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 4 90.00 $90.00 $302 —
358–360 358 5 82.50–90.00 $88.49 $317 —
485 485 2 80.00 $80.00 $388 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 2 87.00 $87.00 $346 —
413 413 6 78.00 $78.00 $322 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1125 1125 (<2 yrs)Open 14 1,925.00 $1,925.00 —

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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.