Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 18, 2021

11,914 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 $153.04/cwt -1.87 vs last sale · ≈ $960/hd at 627 lb · 812 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $158.91/cwt +0.06 vs last sale · ≈ $912/hd at 574 lb · 699 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $137.67/cwt -1.35 vs last sale · ≈ $789/hd at 573 lb · 662 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,914 9,696 13,131
Feeder cattle 10,107 7,610 10,836
Slaughter cattle 1,041 1,016 1,446
Replacement cattle 766 1,070 849

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 4 Colorado auction markets included: Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. Feeder steers under 450 lbs sold uneven, 450-700 lbs steady to 6.00 lower, and over 700 lbs mostly steady to 1.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher, 550-650 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 lower, and over 550 lbs steady to 5.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower. Middle Aged stock cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, November 1, 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
275 275 11 220.50 $220.50 $606 -17.50
313–335 326 11 210.00–219.00 $214.44 $699 +0.97
354–392 375 97 190.00–205.00 $198.30 $744 -7.74
401 fancy 401 11 200.00 $200.00 $802 —
417–446 432 168 174.00–198.00 $186.29 $805 +0.68
448 448 13 177.00 $177.00 $793 -8.61
459 fancy 459 30 192.50 $192.50 $884 —
451–498 478 277 165.00–184.50 $174.10 $832 -4.03
485 unweaned 485 7 167.00 $167.00 $810 —
515 515 3 157.00 $157.00 $809 -12.77
500–548 526 531 155.00–181.50 $167.59 $882 -2.18
544 544 4 171.00 $171.00 $930 +1.23
557–564 fancy 561 68 160.50–164.50 $162.83 $913 -1.17
560–598 unweaned 570 12 155.00–160.00 $158.69 $905 —
550–598 575 598 149.50–175.50 $158.43 $911 -0.06
594 594 21 160.00 $160.00 $950 +1.51
600 fancy 600 35 160.50 $160.50 $963 +7.00
602–644 627 219 155.00–166.25 $160.10 $1,004 -1.10
601–647 unweaned 629 558 141.00–155.50 $149.80 $942 -0.10
654 fancy 654 97 153.50 $153.50 $1,004 —
651–695 665 30 147.00–163.00 $154.50 $1,027 +9.67
650–698 unweaned 668 331 140.00–152.50 $145.86 $974 -0.40
708–743 unweaned 717 148 135.00–142.25 $138.67 $994 -6.00
701–744 721 73 145.00–162.00 $147.94 $1,067 -8.59
767–795 unweaned 776 23 138.00–139.00 $138.69 $1,076 -3.69
764–796 780 66 147.00–153.50 $150.48 $1,174 -0.02
811 811 7 134.00 $134.00 $1,087 -3.70
813 813 3 133.00 $133.00 $1,081 -4.70
806–844 838 40 148.50–153.50 $150.16 $1,258 +12.46
850–852 fancy 851 85 151.00–153.00 $151.87 $1,292 —
854–898 878 27 143.50–148.50 $145.66 $1,279 -0.76
885 885 4 121.00 $121.00 $1,071 -25.42
913–936 924 24 135.50–140.00 $137.59 $1,271 -1.01
997 997 25 132.25 $132.25 $1,319 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341–346 345 21 183.00–192.00 $190.31 $657 -2.41
388 388 38 186.00 $186.00 $722 -4.03
404–441 431 34 170.00–180.50 $175.36 $756 -2.54
465–496 482 100 165.00–175.50 $169.61 $818 +7.74
503–544 535 111 143.00–166.00 $153.22 $820 -4.23
550–599 581 111 146.00–165.00 $156.92 $912 +0.41
612–619 615 21 147.50–156.00 $152.63 $939 +2.79
621–641 unweaned 626 60 142.50–145.50 $143.87 $901 —
667–679 672 24 140.00–152.50 $147.54 $991 -2.10
700–738 725 32 145.00–148.00 $146.99 $1,066 +4.37
922–945 928 4 130.00–136.00 $131.53 $1,221 —
975 975 4 123.50 $123.50 $1,204 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
701 701 7 129.00 $129.00 $904 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 7 141.50 $141.50 $835 +4.52

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
282–296 287 20 182.00–189.00 $184.53 $530 -22.47
310–325 315 18 159.00–173.00 $163.81 $516 +0.66
360 fancy 360 8 170.00 $170.00 $612 —
358–394 376 107 147.00–178.50 $162.15 $610 +2.17
411–445 fancy 418 15 153.00–164.00 $161.66 $676 —
404–442 419 116 144.00–164.00 $156.31 $655 +4.10
450–464 fancy 457 47 152.00–154.50 $153.20 $700 -2.46
452–499 482 402 139.25–159.50 $148.67 $717 +4.60
509 509 4 144.00 $144.00 $733 +6.60
500–549 525 482 133.50–152.75 $139.68 $733 +2.28
548 548 4 144.00 $144.00 $789 +1.18
550–599 573 649 130.50–154.00 $137.66 $789 -1.67
573 573 6 138.50 $138.50 $794 -0.83
594 unweaned 594 7 138.00 $138.00 $820 —
600–647 unweaned 615 374 130.00–141.50 $137.50 $846 +1.90
613–634 621 12 138.00–139.00 $138.55 $860 -4.99
650–696 unweaned 665 106 124.00–136.50 $131.06 $872 -3.27
653–682 674 26 139.50–146.00 $143.23 $965 -0.43
664–681 674 13 126.00–130.00 $128.49 $866 -15.17
689 fancy 689 20 143.75 $143.75 $990 —
716 716 5 125.00 $125.00 $895 ±0.00
703–732 720 50 139.00–146.75 $142.65 $1,027 +17.65
738 unweaned 738 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,011 +1.39
757–773 unweaned 767 22 131.00–136.00 $134.21 $1,029 +1.21
784 784 16 143.00 $143.00 $1,121 +2.01
800–835 806 63 139.00–142.50 $140.30 $1,131 —
878–888 881 76 133.00–141.50 $136.34 $1,201 +2.17
952–983 960 16 130.00–134.50 $133.35 $1,280 +5.00
1001 1001 5 122.00 $122.00 $1,221 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381–392 387 27 142.00–164.00 $156.52 $606 +2.58
407–445 434 37 147.00–157.00 $152.90 $664 +15.47
465–496 484 41 142.00–148.00 $144.56 $700 +2.42
502–544 526 81 130.50–147.50 $141.17 $743 -1.50
550–599 574 61 131.00–144.50 $138.39 $794 -1.13
618–640 629 27 133.00–140.00 $136.20 $857 -4.83
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
539–547 541 33 134.50–137.00 $135.29 $732 -4.71
580–590 582 25 130.00–134.50 $133.33 $776 +1.04
691 691 10 128.00 $128.00 $884 —
722 722 3 127.50 $127.50 $921 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 422 11 135.00 $135.00 $570 —
682 682 3 141.00 $141.00 $962 —
958 958 2 127.00 $127.00 $1,217 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1497–1670 1584 12 85.50–87.00 $86.21 $1,366 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
446 446 16 160.50 $160.50 $716 -14.50
537 537 5 138.00 $138.00 $741 —
627 627 3 126.00 $126.00 $790 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1325 1275 80-85% 6 48.00–53.00 $49.70 $634 -5.13
1105–1695 1352 80-85% 165 54.00–76.00 $68.10 $921 -0.95
1373 1373 80-85% 5 71.00 $71.00 $975 +1.95
1070–1648 1376 80-85% 119 56.00–68.00 $60.31 $830 -8.74
905–1717 1422 80-85% 179 45.00–59.00 $52.16 $742 +1.96
1345–1598 1469 80-85% 13 71.00–77.00 $74.13 $1,089 —
1480–1485 1484 80-85% 4 34.00–36.00 $34.50 $512 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995–1190 1032 85-90% 8 45.00–49.00 $46.72 $482 —
615–1410 1049 85-90% 35 18.00–43.00 $33.50 $351 —
860–1400 1139 85-90% 59 37.50–49.00 $45.53 $519 -0.63
1010–1280 1165 85-90% 46 50.00–66.00 $59.98 $699 +4.29
925–1388 1171 85-90% 98 49.00–57.00 $52.45 $614 -3.24
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1225–1780 1473 75-80% 5 55.00–64.00 $60.04 $884 —
1203–1815 1630 75-80% 42 62.00–78.00 $68.78 $1,121 +10.21
1385–2195 1665 75-80% 13 53.50–62.50 $56.89 $947 -23.97
1540–1920 1722 75-80% 7 78.50–83.00 $80.54 $1,387 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–2355 1753 46 65.00–79.00 $73.81 $1,294 —
1490–2335 1955 32 77.00–85.50 $81.63 $1,596 —
1875–2205 2041 7 87.00–88.50 $87.63 $1,789 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
980–1630 1233 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 292 51.00–64.00 $58.31 $719
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
945–1320 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 85.00–88.50 $86.35 $876
1025–1250 1168 (<2 yrs)Open 9 101.00–116.00 $107.00 $1,250
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1205 1109 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 74.00–79.00 $76.42 $847

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1092–1530 1204 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 1,125.00–1,250.00 $1,204.33
1023–1615 1305 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 36 1,025.00–1,260.00 $1,136.10
1118–1524 1328 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 129 710.00–1,000.00 $844.43
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1080–1263 1196 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 28 625.00–725.00 $689.90
1378 1378 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 900.00 $900.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
995–1365 1110 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,085.00–1,150.00 $1,122.85

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1515 1515 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
1493–1670 1518 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 7 1,300.00–1,400.00 $1,384.29 —
1542 1542 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
1560 1560 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890–898 896 9 94.50–95.50 $95.28 $854 +1.78
905–945 928 20 94.00–95.50 $94.83 $880 +0.48
958–999 982 19 92.00–95.00 $93.51 $918 -1.22
1035 1035 1 96.00 $96.00 $994 +1.06
1057–1090 1063 6 90.00–96.00 $92.68 $985 -2.88
1106–1125 1115 13 94.00–96.50 $95.00 $1,059 -0.34
1151–1194 1172 33 92.50–96.50 $95.54 $1,120 -0.46
1205–1225 1213 48 93.50–96.50 $96.23 $1,167 —
1268–1293 1279 12 93.50–97.50 $96.28 $1,231 —
1310–1335 1314 12 96.00–97.00 $96.83 $1,272 +1.33
1380 1380 1 96.00 $96.00 $1,325 —

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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.