Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 15, 2021

15,894 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 steers $166.38/cwt +1.64 vs last sale · ≈ $951/hd at 572 lb · 773 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $140.39/cwt -1.44 vs last sale · ≈ $807/hd at 575 lb · 618 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $154.86/cwt -1.26 vs last sale · ≈ $966/hd at 624 lb · 604 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 15,894 20,325 18,170
Feeder cattle 10,002 16,532 13,758
Slaughter cattle 2,417 3,041 2,053
Replacement cattle 3,475 752 2,359

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. Winter Livestock hosted its last Special Monday feeder cattle auction for the fall. Winter Livestock and La Junta Livestock hosted Bred Cow and Cow/Calf Pairs Specials this week. Trade activity and demand moderate to good on feeder cattle. Feeder steers under 450 lbs sold sharply lower on a light test, 450-650 lb steers sold mostly 3.00 to 5.00 lower, 650-800 lb steers mostly 1.00 to 3.00 lower and steers over 800 lbs were too thinly tested for an accurate market trend. Feeder heifers under 650 lbs sold mostly 2.00 to 5.00 lower, 650- 700 lbs 3.00 higher, 700-750 lbs 5.00 lower, and hiefers over 750 lbs too thinly tested for an accurate market trend, but higher undertones noted. Average dressing slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower with slaughter bulls selling 5.00 lower. Dairy heifers sold mostly steady. The next available report will be Monday, November 29, 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
320–335 325 15 201.00–207.00 $204.94 $666 -13.10
396–397 396 27 183.00–203.00 $200.77 $795 -9.86
402 thin fleshed 402 5 206.00 $206.00 $828 —
404–438 423 132 175.00–192.50 $182.38 $771 -14.41
458–490 470 240 176.00–190.00 $183.78 $864 -4.23
512–515 fancy 513 98 180.00–185.00 $183.31 $940 -8.94
500–548 533 253 160.00–176.00 $168.04 $896 -2.99
550 fancy 550 77 176.00 $176.00 $968 —
552–597 574 696 156.00–170.00 $165.32 $949 +1.82
600–633 619 414 148.50–164.00 $156.39 $968 -3.50
624–640 unweaned 634 190 148.50–154.50 $151.52 $961 -2.08
650–691 667 326 141.00–159.50 $152.98 $1,020 +1.78
652–694 unweaned 675 261 140.50–150.50 $147.06 $993 +1.61
700–731 716 212 145.00–157.50 $151.19 $1,083 -1.56
705–730 unweaned 720 93 136.00–144.00 $140.88 $1,014 +0.29
750–795 768 108 141.00–153.00 $145.12 $1,115 +8.17
800–833 809 129 141.00–154.50 $152.32 $1,232 +11.32
860–892 868 21 141.00–142.00 $141.76 $1,230 -5.81
901–935 903 133 123.00–155.00 $152.24 $1,375 +4.41
965 965 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,216 -10.01
1002 1002 3 131.00 $131.00 $1,313 -6.29
1093 1093 4 135.00 $135.00 $1,476 —
1210 1210 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,331 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 8 211.00 $211.00 $665 +24.82
383–399 394 78 166.00–190.00 $175.85 $693 -18.51
405–432 421 68 160.00–179.00 $172.03 $724 +1.85
450–495 468 55 161.00–178.00 $172.11 $805 -2.25
508–545 523 60 140.00–155.00 $150.08 $785 -13.60
563–599 574 126 136.00–170.00 $150.75 $865 -6.34
601–647 631 61 142.50–151.00 $147.97 $934 -0.99
656–692 677 54 126.00–137.00 $134.46 $910 -8.95
702–741 727 98 129.00–141.50 $138.41 $1,006 +4.51
755–794 775 40 121.00–137.50 $136.39 $1,057 -3.90
925 925 1 101.00 $101.00 $934 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 6 212.00 $212.00 $729 —
459–486 484 62 166.00–171.00 $166.38 $805 —
531 531 10 162.50 $162.50 $863 -1.87
565–582 573 33 152.50–153.00 $152.75 $875 -3.25
673 673 14 149.00 $149.00 $1,003 +11.53
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 444 8 151.00 $151.00 $670 —
482–496 488 24 160.00–161.00 $160.58 $784 —
646 646 20 140.00 $140.00 $904 +3.16
945 945 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,096 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 15 145.00 $145.00 $819 +4.50
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
668 668 5 126.00 $126.00 $842 —
885 885 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,000 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–375 365 42 172.00–177.00 $175.26 $640 +4.64
402–448 423 162 155.00–170.50 $161.60 $684 -2.86
450 fancy 450 20 160.50 $160.50 $722 -11.50
453–497 468 181 148.00–157.00 $152.16 $712 -5.61
506–507 fancy 506 53 150.00–151.25 $150.54 $762 -2.81
506–546 527 393 138.00–149.00 $143.75 $758 -2.04
550–596 575 618 135.00–149.00 $140.39 $807 -1.52
604–648 unweaned 617 104 134.00–140.00 $136.18 $840 +0.22
600–638 622 189 137.50–147.00 $141.34 $879 +7.34
655 655 31 145.00 $145.00 $950 +4.87
650–693 unweaned 668 186 128.00–138.50 $132.32 $884 +0.99
651–689 675 130 134.00–146.00 $143.03 $965 +18.03
702–726 unweaned 721 41 130.00–136.00 $131.14 $946 +0.37
722–740 729 31 131.00–153.00 $139.70 $1,018 -4.36
773–781 779 38 135.50–152.00 $148.55 $1,157 +10.52
808–814 809 42 137.00–148.10 $145.71 $1,179 +2.18
850 850 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,224 +1.00
920 920 11 137.00 $137.00 $1,260 +6.48
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
249 249 5 145.00 $145.00 $361 —
333–345 337 34 136.00–144.00 $139.25 $469 -19.36
355–396 389 32 130.00–163.00 $143.29 $557 -16.15
410–430 421 55 144.00–150.00 $146.08 $615 -9.50
469–499 490 63 131.00–143.00 $136.17 $667 -13.34
508–545 524 87 126.00–136.00 $133.86 $701 -8.08
563–596 578 72 120.00–135.00 $131.43 $760 -3.27
600–625 610 144 125.00–135.50 $129.90 $792 -3.47
651–697 678 74 128.00–132.50 $129.64 $879 -3.04
724–735 730 25 116.00–126.00 $123.67 $903 +2.67
765–776 771 16 114.00–126.00 $119.96 $925 -15.05
815 815 2 121.00 $121.00 $986 -3.00
865 865 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,090 —
935 935 3 91.00 $91.00 $851 —
950 950 1 92.00 $92.00 $874 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 4 165.00 $165.00 $629 —
438 438 2 149.00 $149.00 $653 +5.86
477–497 485 39 140.00–143.00 $141.74 $687 -9.26
543 543 24 138.00 $138.00 $749 —
562–578 573 30 135.50–143.00 $137.71 $789 +3.71
626 626 29 137.50 $137.50 $861 —
692 692 40 150.00 $150.00 $1,038 —
831 831 7 140.00 $140.00 $1,163 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 393 8 127.00–141.00 $134.00 $527 —
435–440 438 10 121.00–136.00 $130.01 $569 -17.99
501–547 521 17 116.00–132.00 $124.93 $651 -11.77
703–747 721 20 81.00–106.00 $82.23 $593 —
750–795 759 5 81.00–117.00 $88.54 $672 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560 560 26 131.00 $131.00 $734 -14.07
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–398 392 8 131.00–151.00 $146.22 $573 —
437 437 6 141.00 $141.00 $616 —
561 561 5 125.50 $125.50 $704 —
1011 1011 4 86.00 $86.00 $869 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 433 12 166.00 $166.00 $719 +7.00
587 587 12 134.00 $134.00 $787 +11.00
653 653 8 127.00 $127.00 $829 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 3 206.00 $206.00 $690 —
565 565 15 140.00 $140.00 $791 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
700 700 4 111.00 $111.00 $777 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
763–1753 1109 80-85% 47 61.00–86.00 $71.94 $798 —
1017–1865 1205 80-85% 37 67.00–85.00 $71.19 $858 +2.19
930–1745 1245 80-85% 198 51.00–66.00 $57.54 $716 +1.64
1040–1640 1319 80-85% 271 52.00–66.00 $56.99 $752 +8.80
983–1812 1355 80-85% 141 42.00–58.00 $52.94 $717 -8.91
1009–1675 1392 80-85% 32 45.00–54.00 $50.55 $704 —
1455–1640 1548 80-85% 2 12.50–29.00 $21.24 $329 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885–1250 1026 85-90% 39 41.00–50.00 $45.39 $466 —
810–1595 1048 85-90% 55 31.00–49.00 $39.04 $409 —
820–1660 1106 85-90% 29 10.00–35.00 $22.84 $253 -42.96
1058–1310 1116 85-90% 9 60.00–73.50 $67.11 $749 +24.80
845–1618 1209 85-90% 318 41.00–55.50 $47.26 $571 —
945–1635 1308 85-90% 58 42.00–56.00 $47.63 $623 —
1013–1513 1343 85-90% 16 55.00–67.00 $57.25 $769 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1470 1311 75-80% 34 55.00–61.00 $55.67 $730 —
1250–1670 1458 75-80% 24 51.00–61.00 $55.50 $809 -6.73
1403–1735 1482 75-80% 29 61.00–75.00 $65.93 $977 +7.96
1118–1807 1564 75-80% 50 55.00–72.50 $65.54 $1,025 —
1695 1695 75-80% 1 49.00 $49.00 $831 -16.38
1780 1780 75-80% 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,388 —
1725–1828 1790 75-80% 11 73.50–84.00 $80.24 $1,436 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1430 1189 7 70.00–80.00 $77.00 $916 —
1400 1400 1 57.50 $57.50 $805 —
1305–2085 1656 13 50.00–81.00 $71.10 $1,177 —
1085–2030 1668 6 83.00–92.00 $87.56 $1,461 —
1365–2370 1823 43 71.00–88.00 $80.11 $1,460 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
890–1115 952 (<2 yrs)Open 24 50.00–78.00 $71.51 $681
1072–1290 1172 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 22 45.00–63.50 $55.14 $646
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1095 905 (<2 yrs)Open 5 80.00–87.50 $82.59 $747
1053 1053 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 70.50 $70.50 $742
1390 1390 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 62.00 $62.00 $862
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
993–1080 1025 (<2 yrs)Open 6 108.00–124.00 $117.25 $1,202
1060 1060 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 80.00 $80.00 $848

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
407–1247 841 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 27 700.00–775.00 $759.15
1023–1184 1111 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 123 1,100.00–1,275.00 $1,169.01
1008–1583 1189 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 507 1,410.00–1,650.00 $1,518.09
1020–1352 fancy 1220 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 74 1,750.00–1,775.00 $1,753.37
996–1471 1248 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 265 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,245.08
1104–1501 1305 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 376 735.00–960.00 $846.33
1321 1321 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 19 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1376–1423 fancy 1404 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 71 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1243–1550 1406 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 43 850.00–975.00 $886.05
1422–1503 1450 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 29 900.00–1,000.00 $940.06
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
969–1346 1113 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 49 660.00–725.00 $697.65
1029–1482 1211 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 208 975.00–1,425.00 $1,307.71
1105–1383 1244 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,025.00–1,100.00 $1,058.31
994–1406 1256 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 175 1,025.00–1,185.00 $1,118.58
1154–1481 1418 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 26 1,025.00–1,100.00 $1,088.26
1470–1485 1479 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 25 1,100.00–1,125.00 $1,113.62
1544 1544 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 935.00 $935.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1174 1174 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 545.00 $545.00
1251 1251 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1270 1270 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 875.00 $875.00
1281 1281 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 750.00 $750.00
1392 1392 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 785.00 $785.00
1523 1523 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 860.00 $860.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
881–1183 1018 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 218 1,300.00–1,550.00 $1,441.94
1062 fancy 1062 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 1,600.00 $1,600.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010 1010 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1075–1300 1204 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 1,500.00–1,650.00 $1,592.58 —
1050–1325 1275 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 13 1,310.00–1,385.00 $1,324.21 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1380 1380 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1330 1330 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 650.00 $650.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
995 995 1 94.50 $94.50 $940 ±0.00
1013–1042 1025 38 93.00–95.50 $94.37 $967 —
1068–1093 1076 13 94.00–94.50 $94.16 $1,013 —
1100–1116 1113 8 94.00 $94.00 $1,046 ±0.00
1174–1195 1180 17 93.50–94.00 $93.85 $1,107 —
1205 1205 2 94.00 $94.00 $1,133 -1.50
1320 1320 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,201 -3.50
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850 850 8 91.00 $91.00 $774 —
933–941 939 10 93.00–93.50 $93.35 $877 —
955–992 985 14 93.00–93.50 $93.36 $920 —
1115–1135 1125 2 91.00 $91.00 $1,024 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
802–808 804 7 81.00–88.00 $85.99 $691 —
861 861 3 85.00 $85.00 $732 —
970 970 1 84.00 $84.00 $815 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
573 573 1 55.00 $55.00 $315 —
750–773 765 3 62.50–67.50 $65.87 $504 -4.13
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 1 12.50 $12.50 $79 —

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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.