Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 29, 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 $170.32/cwt +13.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,046/hd at 614 lb · 791 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $155.61/cwt +9.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,126/hd at 724 lb · 504 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $158.50/cwt +5.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,063/hd at 670 lb · 500 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,914 3,355 8,675
Feeder cattle 8,799 2,593 3,355
Slaughter cattle 2,566 762 219
Replacement cattle 549 — 5,101

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 very good. Feeder steers under 450 lbs sold sharply higher, 450-650 lbs 11.00 to 16.00 higher, and over 650 lbs 2.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 450 lbs sold sharply higher, 450-650 lbs 8.00 to 12.00 higher, and over 650 lbs trade was mixed. Average dressing Breaker slaughter cows sold 7.00 higher while Average dressing Boners, Leans and Bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower. This week's auction markets saw a noticeable increase in offerings coming off the holiday week. The next available report will be Monday, December 13, 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
294 294 26 245.00 $245.00 $720 —
325–344 336 10 207.50–221.00 $216.45 $727 +13.49
365–376 fancy 368 15 222.00–223.00 $222.27 $818 —
350–391 374 135 197.00–231.00 $223.26 $835 +42.26
419–431 fancy 427 17 215.00–217.00 $215.69 $921 —
400–444 434 112 198.00–211.00 $206.09 $894 +29.99
450 value added 450 29 223.00 $223.00 $1,004 —
464–467 fancy 466 24 198.00–212.00 $202.06 $942 +7.56
453–494 480 141 184.00–207.50 $194.03 $931 +10.48
505–548 520 284 172.00–198.00 $184.39 $959 +16.27
524 unweaned 524 8 172.00 $172.00 $901 —
553–592 fancy 566 75 174.50–188.00 $183.29 $1,037 +12.29
567 unweaned 567 12 166.00 $166.00 $941 —
550–592 572 238 163.00–186.00 $174.98 $1,001 +16.35
600–640 612 489 159.00–179.00 $171.01 $1,047 —
605–625 fancy 612 116 172.00–183.50 $181.34 $1,110 —
606–646 unweaned 620 160 153.00–167.00 $161.60 $1,002 +4.68
615–633 622 26 156.00–164.00 $161.69 $1,006 —
651–687 unweaned 665 111 146.00–166.00 $156.14 $1,038 +7.56
667 fancy 667 7 174.00 $174.00 $1,161 —
650–692 672 382 151.00–165.00 $158.90 $1,068 +2.78
700–748 723 465 149.00–165.00 $156.77 $1,133 —
713–748 unweaned 733 39 133.00–146.00 $141.81 $1,039 +0.81
758–787 774 200 147.50–163.00 $152.97 $1,184 —
801–843 832 88 140.50–155.50 $151.33 $1,259 —
851–883 874 146 142.00–155.50 $153.57 $1,342 —
920–935 931 4 132.00–138.00 $133.48 $1,243 —
960 960 12 152.00 $152.00 $1,459 —
1223 1223 3 117.00 $117.00 $1,431 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–397 383 7 187.00–192.50 $188.68 $723 +15.48
409–448 430 31 187.00–195.50 $194.16 $835 +28.16
467–484 476 57 171.00–188.00 $181.57 $864 +20.57
505–548 532 81 164.50–184.00 $176.47 $939 +17.35
550–591 571 67 161.50–171.00 $166.51 $951 +16.45
570–579 unweaned 578 12 141.00 $141.00 $815 —
629 unweaned 629 6 148.00 $148.00 $931 +4.98
632–648 637 8 148.00–157.00 $153.22 $976 —
681–690 684 40 150.00–157.00 $154.70 $1,058 —
653–695 unweaned 687 24 129.00–135.00 $133.55 $917 -7.45
703–749 719 29 137.00–147.00 $144.00 $1,035 —
772–783 778 14 129.00–146.00 $137.86 $1,073 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 10 167.50 $167.50 $896 —
661–686 682 33 145.00–148.00 $147.56 $1,006 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 unweaned 338 5 137.00 $137.00 $463 —
483 483 8 177.00 $177.00 $855 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
239 239 5 535.00 $535.00 —
296 296 7 575.00 $575.00 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
851 851 10 114.00 $114.00 $970 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
270 270 3 610.00 $610.00 —
313 313 2 650.00 $650.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493 493 3 171.00 $171.00 $843 +1.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274 274 30 230.00 $230.00 $630 —
301–332 319 17 174.00–202.00 $192.45 $614 +22.45
354–391 366 69 171.00–204.00 $193.34 $708 +33.34
366–370 fancy 367 30 200.00–205.00 $204.16 $749 —
400–445 421 114 162.00–181.00 $170.44 $718 +20.70
445 unweaned 445 7 168.00 $168.00 $748 —
453–469 fancy 461 80 169.99–194.00 $174.26 $803 —
454–499 474 199 155.50–181.00 $165.19 $783 +16.29
492 unweaned 492 13 161.00 $161.00 $792 —
502–512 fancy 507 64 170.00–175.50 $172.52 $875 +20.52
500–544 521 319 147.00–171.00 $157.68 $822 +12.68
553–561 fancy 559 46 162.25–164.00 $163.59 $914 +9.09
551–598 577 291 142.00–172.50 $154.49 $891 +7.63
574–585 unweaned 582 16 146.50–147.00 $146.85 $855 —
609–642 622 109 140.00–155.50 $145.42 $905 —
612–643 unweaned 633 9 142.00–142.50 $142.34 $901 -3.21
650–698 668 263 137.00–156.50 $146.58 $979 -4.42
653–678 unweaned 668 67 130.50–137.50 $132.79 $887 -5.92
666–694 677 10 144.00 $144.00 $975 -7.00
700–744 725 94 137.00–148.00 $145.04 $1,052 +6.04
728 unweaned 728 12 143.00 $143.00 $1,041 +2.00
750–764 759 139 138.00–148.00 $144.48 $1,097 —
818 818 48 145.00 $145.00 $1,186 —
860 860 51 147.75 $147.75 $1,271 —
871–888 883 38 135.00–138.00 $136.82 $1,208 —
909–939 918 16 130.00–141.00 $132.86 $1,220 —
973 973 13 122.50 $122.50 $1,192 —
978 fancy 978 4 141.00 $141.00 $1,379 —
1007 1007 19 139.00 $139.00 $1,400 —
1018 fancy 1018 10 144.00 $144.00 $1,466 —
1065–1084 1080 30 132.50–136.00 $134.58 $1,453 —
1193–1196 1194 12 118.00–136.50 $130.32 $1,556 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–330 321 4 161.00–165.00 $162.03 $520 —
355–397 388 44 155.00–179.00 $176.47 $685 —
417–444 429 59 154.00–173.00 $166.41 $714 +22.61
457–491 478 47 143.00–164.00 $152.10 $727 —
525–548 537 18 139.00–153.00 $144.39 $775 +8.74
553–586 572 32 132.00–152.50 $146.03 $835 +9.65
600–630 617 49 132.00–145.00 $137.77 $850 —
633–648 unweaned 638 14 131.00 $131.00 $836 —
663–692 686 23 133.00–141.00 $139.32 $956 —
733 733 6 128.00 $128.00 $938 —
746 unweaned 746 5 117.00 $117.00 $873 —
785–797 794 4 132.00–136.00 $132.99 $1,056 —
805 805 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,087 —
955–990 958 12 128.00 $128.00 $1,226 —
1028 1028 4 123.00 $123.00 $1,264 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
448 448 3 178.00 $178.00 $797 —
493–497 496 20 156.00 $156.00 $774 —
564 564 7 163.00 $163.00 $919 —
623 623 20 146.00 $146.00 $910 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
568 568 9 126.00 $126.00 $716 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
243 243 2 460.00 $460.00 —
310 310 3 500.00 $500.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
218 218 2 435.00 $435.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
180 180 1 390.00 $390.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–1385 1269 80-85% 81 54.00–59.00 $57.08 $724 —
970–1671 1344 80-85% 322 41.00–59.00 $52.54 $706 —
880–1565 1354 80-85% 175 51.00–70.00 $64.77 $877 —
1264–1531 1364 80-85% 8 69.00–70.00 $69.42 $947 —
975–1595 1376 80-85% 180 52.00–70.00 $61.00 $839 —
1295–1570 1473 80-85% 11 69.00–73.00 $70.35 $1,036 —
1490–1610 1508 80-85% 10 32.50–45.00 $36.92 $557 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–1080 893 85-90% 3 42.00–48.00 $44.42 $397 —
975–1150 1043 85-90% 6 64.00–71.00 $69.24 $722 +36.43
836–1355 1057 85-90% 38 20.00–41.00 $29.07 $307 -25.53
1050–1225 1094 85-90% 9 67.50–72.00 $70.10 $767 +22.90
845–1385 1098 85-90% 136 51.00–65.00 $54.31 $596 +7.11
800–1465 1114 85-90% 180 35.00–49.00 $44.57 $497 —
845–1460 1219 85-90% 143 49.00–60.00 $52.21 $636 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360–1400 1364 75-80% 11 57.00–62.00 $61.53 $839 +5.63
1384–1565 1473 75-80% 25 61.00–68.00 $63.36 $933 —
1310–2090 1602 75-80% 63 52.50–64.50 $55.81 $894 —
1390–1950 1651 75-80% 76 61.00–76.00 $69.39 $1,146 —
1722–1785 1751 75-80% 12 39.00–51.00 $49.73 $871 —
1590–1860 1756 75-80% 8 73.50–96.00 $85.23 $1,497 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435 1435 5 70.00 $70.00 $1,004 —
1460–2055 1753 9 75.50–81.00 $77.85 $1,365 —
1490–2385 1851 26 83.00–91.00 $86.90 $1,609 —
1785–2025 1905 2 95.00 $95.00 $1,810 +5.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1065 1065 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1137 1137 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1170 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1095–1430 1172 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,025.00–1,300.00 $1,220.38
1145–1234 1183 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 10 1,200.00–1,225.00 $1,213.90
1164–1620 1349 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 96 700.00–1,050.00 $881.10
1073–1533 1350 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 42 1,100.00–1,425.00 $1,296.48
1030–1588 1360 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 71 950.00–1,100.00 $1,026.22
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1181 1181 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1220–1766 1435 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 65 950.00–1,225.00 $1,069.06
1513 1513 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,575.00 $1,575.00
1388–1678 1558 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 41 1,500.00–1,675.00 $1,603.56
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1165–1425 1232 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 67 500.00–775.00 $670.10
1148–1365 1238 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 30 875.00–1,075.00 $964.57
1280–1402 1340 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 875.00–925.00 $899.97

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
693–698 695 6 90.00–92.50 $90.84 $631 —
810 810 1 97.50 $97.50 $790 —
870 870 1 95.00 $95.00 $826 —
915–941 927 23 96.00–97.50 $97.24 $901 —
970–999 984 25 96.50–98.00 $97.12 $956 —
1000–1015 1002 18 97.50–98.00 $97.69 $979 —
1055–1096 1079 19 95.00–98.00 $96.69 $1,043 —
1105–1139 1119 32 97.00–98.50 $97.74 $1,094 —
1163–1190 1171 15 98.00–98.50 $98.23 $1,150 —
1200–1235 1214 6 95.00–98.50 $96.68 $1,174 —
1261 1261 2 91.00 $91.00 $1,148 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 1 70.00 $70.00 $434 —
690 690 5 70.00 $70.00 $483 —
724 724 4 75.00 $75.00 $543 —
750–792 777 30 70.00–75.00 $71.44 $555 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
777 777 5 85.00 $85.00 $660 —
836 836 7 81.00 $81.00 $677 —
1065–1078 1074 3 85.00–89.00 $86.32 $927 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1484 1484 5 85.00 $85.00 $1,261 —
1645 1645 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,612 —

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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.