Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 4, 2021

9,748 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $149.61/cwt +0.66 vs last sale · ≈ $936/hd at 626 lb · 315 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $156.17/cwt +10.06 vs last sale · ≈ $905/hd at 579 lb · 312 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $135.44/cwt -2.36 vs last sale · ≈ $835/hd at 617 lb · 267 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,748 5,337 8,634
Feeder cattle 8,184 4,219 6,660
Slaughter cattle 1,129 730 1,026
Replacement cattle 435 388 948

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auction reports included: Centennial Livestock, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. Feeder steers under 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 6.00 higher on a light test, 450-750 lbs mostly 5.00 to 13.00 higher, and over 750 lbs sold uneven on a light test. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly from 2.00 lower to 2.00 higher, 500-600 lbs 5.00 to 8.00 lower, and over 600 lbs mostly unevenly steady with instances of 7.00 lower on a light test. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold 2.00 to 4.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, October 18, 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
325–338 329 7 190.00–193.00 $190.88 $628 -11.29
355–387 383 31 193.00–199.00 $195.50 $749 +5.76
401–413 fancy 405 43 195.00–199.00 $197.48 $800 —
401–440 427 62 168.00–189.00 $184.89 $789 +0.72
458–492 479 123 169.00–185.00 $178.33 $854 -1.09
500 fancy 500 76 175.00 $175.00 $875 —
503 503 6 145.00 $145.00 $729 -18.64
500–547 524 175 159.00–175.00 $168.76 $884 +5.12
558 fancy 558 9 163.00 $163.00 $910 —
555–597 580 303 146.00–174.50 $155.97 $905 +9.69
600–645 unweaned 619 118 140.00–156.00 $145.35 $900 -3.60
603–634 fancy 626 90 148.50–151.00 $149.14 $934 —
606–645 633 107 148.00–168.00 $154.69 $979 —
658 658 22 141.00 $141.00 $928 -1.67
650–691 unweaned 672 103 136.00–153.50 $141.52 $951 +4.23
655–695 675 122 140.00–168.00 $155.29 $1,048 +12.62
710 710 4 131.00 $131.00 $930 -15.85
700–736 726 115 146.00–162.50 $153.58 $1,115 +6.73
721–743 unweaned 738 24 138.50–140.85 $140.37 $1,036 —
753–794 776 67 140.25–162.00 $148.44 $1,152 -2.35
773–793 unweaned 784 18 130.00–136.50 $134.20 $1,052 -5.80
810–824 816 33 141.75–146.50 $143.79 $1,173 -3.98
851–863 fancy 853 232 150.25–156.35 $155.29 $1,325 —
856 856 16 134.00 $134.00 $1,147 -10.85
907–916 914 23 143.00–144.00 $143.22 $1,309 +1.44
945 fancy 945 100 150.10 $150.10 $1,418 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 3 202.50 $202.50 $577 —
380–388 386 31 176.00–181.00 $176.97 $683 —
410–447 432 33 169.00–176.00 $170.77 $738 -0.23
463–491 486 82 158.00–169.00 $161.46 $785 -1.20
517–545 527 71 148.00–164.00 $156.90 $827 +6.03
562–597 588 81 144.00–163.00 $158.08 $930 —
603–648 626 97 138.00–150.00 $145.14 $909 —
658 658 4 142.00 $142.00 $934 -7.62
707–722 unweaned 715 20 135.00–136.00 $135.51 $969 —
803 803 3 140.00 $140.00 $1,124 —
930 930 8 133.50 $133.50 $1,242 —
1119 1119 5 119.75 $119.75 $1,340 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 3 195.00 $195.00 $751 —
569 569 4 136.00 $136.00 $774 —
567–582 574 11 141.00–145.00 $143.16 $822 —
624 624 30 145.00 $145.00 $905 —
712 712 21 140.00 $140.00 $997 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–433 429 9 155.00 $155.00 $665 -2.00
461–493 473 14 150.00–151.00 $150.85 $714 —
588 588 10 139.00–142.00 $140.80 $828 —
707 707 5 129.00 $129.00 $912 -1.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
826 826 24 140.50 $140.50 $1,161 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 9 141.00 $141.00 $656 —
584 584 6 123.00 $123.00 $718 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368 368 3 155.00 $155.00 $570 —
788 788 5 117.00 $117.00 $922 —
936 936 4 120.00 $120.00 $1,123 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475 1475 3 110.00 $110.00 $1,622 —
1588–1660 1612 3 88.00–94.00 $91.94 $1,482 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357–389 373 47 155.00–167.00 $163.59 $610 -3.41
405–444 430 88 148.00–154.00 $149.60 $643 -2.02
453–488 467 83 138.00–153.00 $147.33 $688 +1.72
501–541 519 180 130.00–152.50 $137.29 $713 -5.10
554 fancy 554 7 141.00 $141.00 $781 —
551–597 580 124 129.50–154.00 $135.91 $788 -7.85
603–608 605 71 138.00–156.00 $142.64 $863 -1.86
603–648 unweaned 621 196 125.00–141.00 $132.83 $825 -2.65
664 fancy 664 6 138.00 $138.00 $916 —
669 669 13 136.00–142.00 $140.15 $938 +1.13
652–694 unweaned 674 36 132.00–136.00 $134.06 $904 -0.94
700 700 4 131.50 $131.50 $920 -7.01
786–790 788 29 131.00 $131.00 $1,032 —
807–809 807 32 124.00–129.50 $128.64 $1,038 -7.35
853–863 854 43 123.00–133.00 $132.06 $1,128 -0.43
926–940 934 18 128.00–135.00 $130.30 $1,217 -0.18
950–986 975 25 127.00–134.00 $130.39 $1,271 +2.89
1021–1045 1029 12 124.00–124.50 $124.33 $1,279 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 2 152.00 $152.00 $585 -8.45
401–439 425 92 136.00–153.00 $145.07 $617 -6.93
450–495 466 121 131.00–154.00 $142.08 $662 -1.60
504–546 522 120 131.00–149.50 $142.91 $746 +5.95
555–590 567 109 125.00–145.50 $137.42 $779 -2.58
600–626 608 33 135.00–141.00 $137.68 $837 —
624 624 5 133.00 $133.00 $830 —
661–696 684 43 132.00–135.75 $134.15 $918 -3.85
696 unweaned 696 14 121.00 $121.00 $842 —
706–719 714 24 134.00–142.00 $139.69 $997 +14.69
782–792 784 16 130.00–136.50 $135.27 $1,061 +4.77
819–845 829 15 123.00–136.00 $125.94 $1,044 —
849 849 10 131.00 $131.00 $1,112 —
933 933 2 126.00 $126.00 $1,176 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 5 143.00 $143.00 $559 —
493–497 496 9 131.00–138.00 $135.68 $673 —
550–586 570 11 126.00–127.00 $126.44 $721 —
610–643 630 11 126.00–132.00 $129.89 $818 —
664–695 667 9 118.50–129.00 $119.71 $798 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 14 137.00 $137.00 $726 —
637 637 20 135.00 $135.00 $860 —
725 725 7 128.00 $128.00 $928 -2.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
432–437 434 32 144.00 $144.00 $625 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
893 893 7 105.00 $105.00 $938 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 11 139.00 $139.00 $730 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1435 1328 80-85% 4 56.00–61.00 $59.17 $786 —
925–1586 1351 80-85% 118 63.00–75.00 $68.77 $929 +9.47
1068–1688 1363 80-85% 106 50.00–63.00 $56.47 $770 -2.83
1030–1718 1453 80-85% 80 61.00–72.00 $65.84 $957 —
1103–1740 1479 80-85% 80 35.00–56.00 $44.32 $655 —
1430–1685 1593 80-85% 15 77.00–99.00 $83.75 $1,334 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1190 1062 85-90% 14 70.50–81.50 $77.14 $819 —
890–1320 1095 85-90% 30 57.00–71.00 $65.19 $714 —
650–1350 1111 85-90% 50 20.00–48.00 $33.09 $368 -20.40
725–1379 1164 85-90% 156 40.00–58.00 $47.63 $554 -20.07
849–1345 1193 85-90% 75 55.00–61.00 $57.55 $687 -2.63
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1495 1468 75-80% 2 57.00–58.00 $57.49 $844 -9.54
1360–1970 1533 75-80% 29 57.00–69.00 $63.31 $971 —
1390–1945 1631 75-80% 24 65.00–80.00 $71.34 $1,164 -4.00
1646–1650 1647 75-80% 5 67.00–69.00 $67.40 $1,110 -7.94
1468–1948 1698 75-80% 37 70.00–90.00 $82.80 $1,406 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1090 1083 2 80.00–85.00 $82.52 $894 —
1020–2245 1673 47 61.00–81.00 $75.93 $1,270 —
1468–2470 1923 40 79.50–90.00 $84.98 $1,634 —
1955–2025 1990 2 92.00 $92.00 $1,831 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
774–1398 1134 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 77 51.00–64.00 $57.16 $648
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
918 918 (<2 yrs)Open 2 120.00 $120.00 $1,102
978 978 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 85.00 $85.00 $831

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1104 1104 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,385.00 $1,385.00
1062–1377 1232 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 33 1,210.00–1,350.00 $1,281.33
1453 1453 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,300.00 $1,300.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1169 1169 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 975.00 $975.00
1133–1325 1183 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 900.00–960.00 $938.82
1143–1375 1241 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 860.00–975.00 $915.48

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885–973 914 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,025.00–1,035.00 $1,028.55

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1250 1250 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
1300 1300 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 28 1,325.00–1,335.00 $1,333.21 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1328 1328 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
260–299 263 105 116.00–130.00 $118.03 $310 —
350–395 372 38 115.00–121.00 $118.36 $440 —
455 455 14 117.00 $117.00 $532 —
530 530 5 94.00 $94.00 $498 —
850–864 860 8 93.50–94.00 $93.56 $805 +0.56
918–935 925 5 96.00–96.50 $96.20 $890 —
953–986 979 10 93.00–96.50 $95.82 $938 +2.42
1005–1045 1024 14 94.00–97.00 $95.96 $983 +1.46
1055–1087 1078 15 92.00–96.50 $95.38 $1,028 +1.09
1100–1133 1117 16 94.00–96.50 $95.45 $1,066 +2.09
1150–1180 1160 6 95.00–96.00 $95.66 $1,110 +1.32
1201–1233 1214 10 95.00–97.50 $96.54 $1,172 —
1250–1278 1265 11 93.00–97.00 $96.18 $1,217 +4.18
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–349 318 19 80.00–84.00 $82.84 $263 —
368 368 4 84.00 $84.00 $309 —
425 425 8 83.00 $83.00 $353 —
498 498 5 85.00 $85.00 $423 —
553–572 568 23 79.00–83.50 $79.95 $454 —
680 680 5 75.00 $75.00 $510 —
785 785 12 84.00 $84.00 $659 —
884 884 5 87.00 $87.00 $769 —
938–943 941 4 88.00 $88.00 $828 —
1025–1037 1027 16 87.00–93.00 $88.14 $905 —
1059 1059 4 89.00 $89.00 $943 —
1100–1140 1125 8 89.00–96.00 $91.57 $1,030 —
1202–1249 1220 24 87.00–98.00 $93.10 $1,136 —
1275 1275 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,135 —
1301 1301 5 96.00 $96.00 $1,249 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
224 224 7 130.00 $130.00 $291 —
321 321 7 128.00 $128.00 $411 —
805 805 7 114.00 $114.00 $918 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
388 388 21 84.00 $84.00 $326 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
288 288 6 70.00 $70.00 $202 —
397 397 5 76.00 $76.00 $302 —
1035 1035 1 77.50 $77.50 $802 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
366–388 372 7 24.00–30.00 $25.79 $96 —
509 509 4 21.00 $21.00 $107 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293–295 294 38 110.00–115.00 $112.10 $330 —
304–345 325 75 106.00–119.00 $115.42 $375 —
352–389 367 104 108.00–116.00 $112.67 $413 —
403–444 421 301 100.50–109.50 $106.76 $449 —
462 462 20 100.00 $100.00 $462 —
571–593 581 83 90.00–95.00 $92.31 $536 —
668 668 16 93.00 $93.00 $621 —
714–740 727 40 81.00–92.00 $83.96 $610 —
873–894 887 6 85.00–94.00 $87.95 $780 —
943–945 944 27 82.00–96.00 $87.71 $828 —
1278 1278 8 72.00 $72.00 $920 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
256 256 131 141.00 $141.00 $361 —
305–335 306 76 123.50–132.50 $123.76 $379 —
401–441 416 13 131.00–132.50 $131.89 $549 —
579–583 581 9 120.00–123.00 $121.33 $705 —
613–633 619 11 114.00–124.00 $118.90 $736 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
189 189 31 98.00 $98.00 $185 —
217–225 221 72 95.00–107.00 $100.94 $223 —
273–278 275 19 100.00–101.00 $100.43 $276 —
380–383 381 14 83.00–84.00 $83.71 $319 —
493–495 494 10 88.00–89.00 $88.50 $437 —
536–546 541 31 82.50–87.00 $84.09 $455 —
559–575 566 28 82.00–84.00 $82.94 $469 —
818 818 6 83.00 $83.00 $679 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302–320 308 14 139.00–141.00 $139.74 $430 —
368–388 373 59 136.00–145.00 $142.07 $530 —
407–413 407 33 131.00 $131.00 $533 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
234–249 240 24 31.00 $31.00 $74 —
339 339 5 36.00 $36.00 $122 —
579 579 9 34.00 $34.00 $197 —
637 637 9 33.00 $33.00 $210 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 11 149.00 $149.00 $551 —
503 503 4 142.00 $142.00 $714 —
861 861 12 122.50 $122.50 $1,055 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 6 88.00 $88.00 $238 —
388 388 13 55.00 $55.00 $213 —
478 478 4 40.00 $40.00 $191 —
668 668 3 41.00 $41.00 $274 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
259 259 7 127.50 $127.50 $330 —
393–395 394 13 112.00–125.00 $117.02 $461 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
744 744 17 129.50 $129.50 $963 —

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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.